Florence M. Phillips, 82

Florence M. Phillips age 82 of Tracy, MN died Sunday, September 22, 2013 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy.  Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2013 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy. Interment will be in the Tracy City Cemetery, with a luncheon served in the church social hall immediately following the burial. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.

Florence Margaret Phillips was born March 4, 1931 to Israel and Florence (Sterling) Raymond in Tracy, MN, Lyon County.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended country school near Amiret, MN.  As a young woman Florence worked for the Hotel Exchange in Tracy, as a waitress.

On November 10, 1947 Florence married Howard Petersen at the Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy.  They made their home in the Tracy area until 1954, when they purchased a farm near Glenwood, MN.  After Howard’s death in 1967, Florence remained on the farm until July 3, 1969 when Florence married Floyd Phillips in Alexandria, MN.  They made their home in Tracy, MN and Florence has lived in Tracy ever since.  While living in Tracy, Florence worked for Schott Corporation in Marshall, MN for twenty years and was a waitress at the Red Rooster Café in Tracy for many years.

She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and was active over the years in the Zion Lutheran Church Women’s group and Bible study.  She was also a member of the Tracy VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries, Tracy Eagles Club and Primetimers.  Florence enjoyed playing cards, especially Canasta, painting, Bingo, Crossword puzzles, Crafts, and taking several trips with the Primetimers.

In April of 2012 Florence became a resident of the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, where she died, surrounded by her loving family, on Sunday, September 22, 2013.

Florence is survived by her three daughters, JoAnne Bromen of Newport, MN, Linda (Les) Wakefield and Susan (Jon) Breyfogle, both of Tracy, MN; four sons, Ronald (Sandy) Petersen of Woodbury, MN, David (Lynn) Petersen of Tracy, MN, Larry (Connie) Petersen of St. Paul Park, MN and Jerry Petersen of Winona, MN; step-son, Todd (Kelly) Kopischke of Vernon Center, MN; twenty nine grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Irene Petersen of Tracy, MN and June Langdon of Seattle, WA; nieces, nephews and friends.

Her two husbands, Howard Petersen and Floyd Phillips, one infant son, one great granddaughter, son-in-law, five brothers, George, Jim, Ed, Joe and Lloyd, and three sisters, Helen McFall, Ruth Koch, and Marie Walker preceded her in death.