Phyllis was born December 17, 1927 to Thomas and Gay (Lunning) Ostrem. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church rural Centerville. She attended Ireland Country School and graduated from Centerville High School. She received Teaching Certificate from Yankton College and taught at Ireland and Euclid Country schools.


Phyllis was united in marriage to Gordon Larson on June 21, 1947 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Centerville. To this union they had five children. They farmed in the rural Centerville and Beresford areas until moving to Beresford in 1986.


Phyllis became a member of Komstad Covenant Church, her church and faith was a very important part of her life. She was involved in Ladies Aid, Choir, Circle, and taught Sunday School. She also served on many church Boards.


She worked in the Beresford School System for 10 years and after that time she retired and went to work with the Bright Beginnings Day Care. Phyllis loved her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was always willing to babysit and was fortunate to be able to babysit some of her great grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoyed playing her piano, embroidery work, flowers and playing scrabble with whoever thought they could beat her. Mom and Dad enjoyed their many Ostrem family fishing trips and travels across the country with friends and family in the turquoise and white conversion van.


She is survived by and will be greatly missed by her five children: Linda (Tom) Erickson of Beresford, Jerrine Worley Ostenson of Eden Prairie, MN., Chuck (Diane) Larson of Beresford, Greg (Sharron) Larson of Beresford and Gail (Craig) Andersen of Centerville; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; one sister, Anna Mae (Norman) Nelson of Centerville and one brother, Boyd Ostrem of Centerville.


She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gordon, granddaughter Kayla Larson, brothers Bob, Clarence (Bub), and Arnie Ostrem and sisters Leone (Russell) Anderson and Joyce (Eldon) Edman.