Phyllis Weinkauf

Phyllis Weinkauf, 88, New Effington, SD, died Thursday, November 18, 2010, at the Rosholt Care Center in Rosholt, SD.
Funeral services were Monday, November 22, at 10:30 a.m. at Walla Lutheran Church, rural New Effington, with Rev. Suzanne Benidt officiating. Music was provided by organist Debra Bredvik and vocalists Paul and Diane Bartnick.
Burial was in the Walla Cemetery, rural New Effington. Honorary pallbearers were Phyllis's great-grandchildren. Active pallbearers were her grandchildren.
Visitation was Sunday from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt. Visitation continued Monday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Phyllis Leona Mathilda Weinkauf was born January 23, 1922, to Axel and Signe (Ostlund) Swanson in Hart Township, rural Victor, SD. She was baptized and confirmed at Walla Lutheran Church. She attended Hart #4 for two years. Then the family moved just south of New Effington, where she finished her schooling and graduated from New Effington High School in 1940. After finishing school, Phyllis worked for Wall's Grocery in New Effington and the Bank of New Effington until her marriage.
On April 8, 1944, Phyllis married Oswald Weinkauf at Walla Lutheran Church on her parents' 23rd wedding anniversary. She became a homemaker and they farmed north of New Effington where they raised their two children, Susanne and Merle.
Phyllis enjoyed raising chickens, having eggs, cats and dogs. She liked to cook and bake and was known for her Swedish Braid Coffeecake. Oswald and Phyllis were known to attend all of the NEHS basketball games and local softball games. They also enjoyed watching the Twins. In 1984, they retired and moved into New Effington.
Phyllis was active in the Walla Ladies Aid serving in local and district offices and quilting in her later years. She was a Cub Scout den mother, member and officer in the New Effington Senior Citizens, Farmer's Union youth leader, Sunday school teacher, and a member of the Lien Sprouts Homemaker's Club. She was on the planning committee for the 50th Anniversary of the town of New Effington and served on the history book committee for the Diamond Jubilee.
Oswald passed away August 19, 2004. In February of 2005, Phyllis became a resident of Greenleaf Assisted Living in Sisseton, SD, and in 2007 made her home at the Rosholt Care Center.
Phyllis is survived by her two children, Susanne (Franklin) Navratil of New Effington, and Merle Weinkauf of Spokane, WA; seven grandchildren, Jodeen (Neal) Kutter of Hankinson, ND, Wade (Gwen) Navratil of Excelsior, MN, Kirk (Dawn) Navratil of New Effington, Denise Weinkauf of Colorado Springs, CO, Michael Weinkauf of Minneapolis, and Brandi Weinkauf and Jacqueline Weinkauf of Spokane; ten great-grandchildren, Daniel, Brianna, and Tanner Kutter, Adam Spah, Samantha and Zachery Navratil, Kya and Morgan Navratil, and Kylee and Haleigh Weinkauf; two sisters, Eleanor (Bob) Seurynck of Mesa, AZ, and Dolores (Carl) Johnson of Cottonwood, AZ; and a brother, Bruce Swanson of Rochester, MN.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband and parents.