Phyllis Darlene Almquist

Phyllis Darlene (Wram) Almquist was born on September 15, 1931 in Stanton, Iowa to Adolph and Ellen (Lindquist) Wram, the youngest of 8 children. She grew up in Stanton where she attended grade school and graduated from Stanton High School in 1949. Phyllis participated in Iowa girls basketball, cheerleading, drama and speech, completing at a state level. During her school days she began her life long love of music and singing. She sang in various choirs and small groups at school and around the town of Stanton. Phyllis married Howard Almquist on February 25, 1951 at Mamreland Lutheran Church in Stanton, Iowa and to this union four children were born: Deb, Annette, Mike and Ken. Phyllis and Howard lived on several farms in Southwest Iowa before moving to Bennington in 1957. Phyllis worked with Howard on the farm and as a bookkeepr for Almquist Feed Grinding Service before starting up the lunch program for Bennington Public Schools. She saw many changes in the cafeteria before retiring after 13 years. She was active in many organizations including St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lutheran Club, Social Ministry, Womens Club, American Legion Auxiliary (served as Douglas County President twice), 40 & 8 . Phyllis continued her love of music and sang in the church Choir and for many weddings and funerals. She enjoyed cooking, canning, traveling in their RV, doing crossword puzzles and watching for her cardinals out the back door of thier home. Holidays and especially Christmas were important for Phyllis, preparing Swedish rye bread, Ostkaka, Potatis Korv and of course Lutefisk. Her home was always a gathering place for family and friends from near and far. Last December Howard and Phyllis moved from thier home on the farm to the Ridgewood Senior Living Center. Phyllis passed away on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 78 years, 11 months and 18 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Adolph and Ellen, husband Howard and 7 brothers and sisters. Phyllis is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law Ken and Michele of Manhattan, KS and Mike and Debbie of Bennington; daughters and sons-in-law Annette and Merlin Kay of Kennard, NE and Deb and Victor Sass of Omaha; 12 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Pat Wram of Creighton, MO and Ruth Wram of Ankeny, IA; Almquist, Phyllis age 78 of Bennington, NE Survived by sons and daughters-in-law Ken and Michele of Manhattan, KS and Mike and Debbie of Bennington; daughters and sons-in-law Annette and Merlin Kay of Kennard, NE and Deb and Victor Sass of Omaha; 12 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Pat Wram of Creighton, MO and Ruth Wram of Ankeny, IA; Visitation Monday from 5 to 8 PM at the funeral home; Funeral Tuesday 2 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington; Interment German Cemetery. Memorials to the church or the Bennington Fire and Rescue. Condolences to www.reichmuthfuneralhomes.com Hadan-Golden-Reichmuth Mortuary Bennington, NE 402-238-2291

Phyllis Darlene Almquist

September 15, 1931 - September 2, 2010