Phyllis was born July 1, 1931 in Mankato, Minnesota to John and Olwen Barnard of Good Thunder, MN.

She graduated from high school in Good Thunder in a class of 12 and got her state teaching certificate during a two-year program at Mankato State. She continued her education in teaching at the University of Minnesota.

While at “The U,” some of her housemates convinced a reluctant Phyllis into going to a school dance one night, where she met the man who would become her husband of 50 years, Paul Swanson.

They went to Totinos Pizza on their first date and the rest was history. Phyllis was student teaching in Lindstrom Minnesota. They married in 1957 as Phyllis began her first teaching job at Groveland Elementary, followed by her next job at Deephaven Elementary in Excelsior, MN.

Her teaching career came to a halt with the pregnancy of her first child Elizabeth and her classroom became her home and her class size grew to three following the births of Eric and Kirk. 

Paul was on the road a lot and Phyllis assumed much of the domestic workload from child rearing and house work, to juggling the household finances and being very involved with their church at Faith Presbyterian. In fact she and Paul were one of the founding families when Faith came to be established in Minnetonka, from its parent church in Glen Lake.

Among the many activities Phyllis found time for at the church were, Circle, Dinner at your Door, and many church outings later in her and Paul’s life.

Phyllis was an outstanding cook and kept a growing family well fed. Among the favorites of the family were her custards, cookies, lemon cake, the egg bake she began as a Christmas tradition, and too many more dishes to mention. She could bake anything and there were always cookies in the cookie jar (or the back porch in the winter).

During the years when her children were young they did everything as a family. There were family vacations including the well-remembered trip to Alaska when the family piled into the Dodge van with a makeshift play pen for the youngest Kirk and an apprehensive “Frisker Lynx” the cat which Beth insisted on bringing along. The cat was the only casualty of the trip.

Although Phyllis was a stay at home Mom and certified domestic engineer she also served as the meticulous bookkeeper for MARTEC, Paul’s business. Paul would often come home with ideas and financial plans and it came to Phyllis to find a way to make them happen on paper. Besides MARTEC, the family also ran several apartment buildings in St. Paul. Phyllis not only took care of all the books on these investments, but she and the children all pitched in every time there were maintenance and cleaning needs at the properties.

Not certified as such, Phyllis also played the role of paramedic and EMT with her family. Paul, Eric and Kirk….the boys, especially tested her emergency preparedness training.

Perhaps one of the scariest times for the rest of the family was the incident during the winter of 74/75 when she fell off the roof while raking snow. The Lord was looking out for her because it was only by chance that she was found by the gas meter man, who, by God’s grace, happened to be an EMT. She had fractured her pelvis and done quite a bit of damage to herself. The four weeks she spent in the hospital were frightening and darkest times the family had known up to then. It was very obvious just how important this beloved woman was to this family.

In recognition of all Phyllis meant to him, Paul would give her thoughtful presents like snowmobiles and motorcycles. Things any wife would love!

In 1979/80 the family bought their cabin on Rock Lake in Pillager. Phyllis loved cross country skiing and helped Paul and the boys get the property into tip top shape while making many good friends there at the lake.

She had the ability to get along with anyone. She could be firm and both boys remember “the arm grab” the severity of which was punctuated with varying degrees of nail pressure into the flesh to achieve the desired degree of submission by the subject in tow. She always had a calm demeanor and exuded a class and sophistication which shown through with an easy smile and a twinkle in the eye.

She gently helped her daughters in law learn the things young wives need to know about etiquette and social protocol. Of course she was also a reference for any question one might have about cooking or baking.

Phyllis was an avid gardener and loved her hostas. She was the head grounds keeper at 4670 Lakeway Terrace for more than 40 years and enjoyed sharing her yard with the birds. Squirrels not so much.

She was also the chief decorator for Christmas and other holidays and created a home reminiscent of some Norman Rockwell cover that most people only have seen in a painting. Phyllis gave all that to her family and anyone who came to her house to visit. She enjoyed entertaining.

After the kids were grown she and Paul enjoyed travel together. They explored the States, Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean. They also enjoyed trips with friends from their church ,and after Paul was gone she still enjoyed bus outings with her friends from Faith.

In her time at Sunrise Phyllis was one of the most beloved of the residents. Most all of the staff commented at some time or another how they especially enjoyed her for her cheerful disposition and once again, that warm smile.

While it is true that her husband Paul was a great man, it is also true that he owed much of what he was to her, and he knew that. To say she was glue that held the family together sounds trite, but it’s not an overstatement or an exaggeration. Her faith in Jesus, and love for her God was lived out every day and witnessed by all who knew her.

She will leave a void that cannot be filled, but she also leaves memories in the hearts of all who loved her that will never fade.

Published on January 23, 2019