Phyllis Lorraine (Valen) Trost 1937-2020

TROST, VALEN, LILLAND

Posted By: Barry R Huntsinger (email)
Date: 9/26/2020 at 08:13:36

Phyllis Lorraine Trost passed away peacefully on September 17, 2020, in Lisbon, Iowa.

Phyllis was born on July 4, 1937, in Estherville, Iowa, to Gust and Jennie (Lilland) Valen. She was baptized and confirmed at Palestine Lutheran Church near Dolliver, Iowa. Phyllis’ strong ties to family and Christian faith began in childhood with Sunday School and Vacation Bible School with her many cousins– Lillands, Valens, Sundes, and Tweedts–at that small country church. Phyllis recalled good memories of frequent church gatherings and family picnics at Tuttle and Ingham Lakes, and at the homes of aunts and uncles who lived nearby.

She grew up on the family farm west of Dolliver and north of Estherville on “Norwegian Avenue” where she enjoyed playing in the hayloft and looking for kittens, climbing trees and making mud pies with the white fluff from cottonwood tree seeds for the “frosting.” Phyllis had wonderful memories of how her father worked so well with his brothers, who farmed nearby, even sharing farming equipment. One of Phyllis’ cousins recalls Gust baling hay and needing help from Phyllis and her sister, Beverly to make sure the baler worked properly. But Phyl and Bev might have been more interested in getting a tan.

Phyllis attended grade school and junior high in Dolliver where she played basketball, and attended high school in Estherville, Iowa where she played trumpet in the band. Phyllis went on to Waldorf College, as so many of her friends and relatives had done. She did her student teaching in Lake Mills, Iowa, and earned an associate’s degree in teaching. After graduating, she drove from Iowa to California with two other young women from Iowa who would also be teaching at Calvary Lutheran School, West Covina, California. Phyllis enjoyed her few years teaching in California, and took advantage of the location to fly to Hawaii with other young teachers for a vacation over a Christmas break.

Soon the midwest called Phyllis back and she taught in Ames, Iowa. Thanks to a mutual friend, Phyllis met Charles Trost on a blind date. They were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson, Iowa on a very snowy February 17, 1962. Some of the guests were unable to attend due to the blizzard. But the weather then cleared to allow them to honeymoon for a few days in balmy Chicago. They lived in Ames for a few months before buying their home in Jefferson where she lived for nearly 56 years. The house on Chestnut Street became their home where they welcomed two daughters, Lisa and Susan. Phyllis was a wonderful wife and mother.

One of Phyllis’ gifts was compassion towards others. She frequently visited friends in the nursing home or hospital, or called to check on people after an illness or surgery, and sent cards and notes to let them know that she was thinking about them. She took time to ask about what was going on in people’s lives and would share a warm smile, patting their back or rubbing their arm. She was thrilled to be on the receiving end of the cards and letters, especially in her later years.

Phyllis was a frequent substitute teacher in the elementary school in Jefferson over the years. She also worked in the church office as a secretary at Trinity Lutheran Church and later with her family as a custodian at church. She spent some time working in the laundry room at the nursing home and even walked beans with Bonnie Blume, a friend from church.

Phyllis enjoyed travels with Charlie around Iowa to see interesting historical sights and looking for wildlife at many of the lovely county and state parks. Phyllis always kept her eyes open in newspapers and magazines for potential places to explore. They traveled to Colorado and California to visit her relatives, as well as New York to visit Lisa’s family. Phyl and Charlie readily accepted invitations to visit Sue and her family to celebrate a birthday or holiday, and to join their daughters on vacation any time the offer came up.

Phyllis loved going to the Uptown Cafe in Jefferson, ordering the “Lincoln Scrambler” (with no mushrooms). The waitresses brought a coffee and water for her and Charlie before they even took their coats off. Phyl might be there for a while since there were so many friends to greet and talk to at the Uptown. A stop at Dairy Queen for a sundae with Heath Bar crumbles on top was always welcomed. Coffee was ever-present for Phyl, with a pot of coffee always on at her Jefferson home. And there was always a need for a daily trip to the grocery store.

During her years in Jefferson, Phyl made many good friends at Trinity and appreciated her good neighbors. She taught Sunday School, led her daughter Susan’s Camp Fire Girls troup, enjoyed ladies Bible studies, baking and cooking. Her cinnamon rolls were amazing, also rhubarb bars, coffee cake, and kringla. Phyllis enjoyed gardening and making clothes for her daughters. She always decorated for each holiday; maybe that was the teacher in her and some decorations had been on her bulletin boards at school years before. All this helped to make the house a home for her family!

She enjoyed watching womens’ basketball teams, both the local schools as well as Iowa State. She enjoyed watching professional golf, especially to cheer on Zach Johnson (native Iowan). And for a while, she was into politics which included participating in the straw polls in Ames (free food!), as well as attending the caucuses a few times. She appreciated the opportunity to watch her granddaughters, Nicole, Angela, and Kate, whenever they were in choir and band concerts, or in plays. Time with family was precious to Phyllis!

Phyllis is survived by her sister, June Peterson; daughters, Lisa (Tim) Sommerer and Sue (Matt) Margheim; granddaughters, Nicole Margheim, Angela Sommerer, and Kate Margheim; and numerous nieces, nephews and beloved cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charlie; her sisters, Maxine (AJ) Birkland, Jane (Lyle) Bergeson, and Bev (George) Koltko; her brothers, Arvid (Mickie) Valen, Duane Valen; and in-laws, Mike Peterson, Paul and Joann Trost, Edgar and Geneva Trost, and Herb and Eloise Trost, and Ruth Trost.

A private graveside service was held with a Celebration of Life service held later.

(Source: Stewart Baxter Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, Iowa.)