Phyllis Jensen

Phyllis Marilyn (Swanson) Jensen was born on March 24, 1930 in Pontiac, Michigan to Elmer and Ida (Peterson) Swanson. The family moved to Washington, D.C. In 1932, her father, a police officer, was shot and killed in the line of duty. Her mother then moved her family of four to Minneapolis and later to Alexandria. In 1940, her mother remarried and they moved to a farm north of Nelson. Phyllis completed 8th grade in Nelson school district #40 and continued her education in Alexandria at the Central High School where she graduated in 1948. Phyllis worked at various jobs in Alexandria until she gained full time employment at the Alexandria Telephone Company, where she worked for 27 years first as an operator and later as a warehouse person. Phyllis married Jerry Jensen on October 9, 1954 at Fahlun Lutheran Church in rural Nelson, MN. They were blessed with three daughters. They lived on Lake Geneva and then moved to their home of 54 years east of Alexandria. She enjoyed quilting, flower gardens, and crossword puzzles. Phyllis was active in her church, Our Saviour?s Lutheran Church of Nelson, serving in various capacities. Phyllis passed peacefully on January 5, 2014 at the Douglas County Hospital at the age of 83. She is survived by her husband; daughters, Lynn (Pete Janssen) Holdingford, Sue (Robert Valenta) Montpelier, ND, and Ann (Jay Luloff) Sauk Centre; six grandchildren, Abram, Amanda, and Isaac Valenta, Josh, Emily and Kaitlyn Luloff; brother, Bob (Marilyn) Swanson, Wadena; sister, Diann (Allen) Bakke, Alexandria; and many nieces and nephews. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Delores Johnson and Judith Wilkin; brother, Eugene Swanson; step sisters, Jean Wilson, Arlene Swisher, and Ethelyn Jermstad, step brothers, Richard Carlson, nephews, Mark Swanson, Steven Swanson, and Jeff Wilkin. A funeral service will be held January 11, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Our Saviour?s Lutheran Church, Nelson with Reverend Jeremy Pedersen officiating. Visitation will be at Anderson Funeral Home, Alexandria, Friday, January 10, 2014 from 5 to 8 PM and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria