Phyllis Ione (Erickson) Peterson was born October 31, 1926 to Arthur and Betsy (Ellingson) Erickson. She was baptized and confirmed in Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls, MN. She grew up on the family farm south of Hanley Falls, graduating from Hanley Falls High School in 1944 and from Canby Normal Teachers Training in 1946. Phyllis earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Upper Elementary Education from Southwest State College, Marshall, MN in 1973. Phyllis was united in marriage to Iren Ervin "Pete" Peterson on January 18, 1953 in Echo, MN. Pete died in September 1999 and Phyllis continued to live on their farm east of Hanley Falls until November 1999. At the time of her death, she was living at the Clara City Care Center. Phyllis taught in the country school system for nine years, at Wood Lake Public School for eighteen years and Echo-Wood Lake Elementary School in Echo for three years. In all, her career as a teacher spanned thirty very rewarding years, during which her love of her students was constantly evident in her caring and compassionate teaching style. Phyllis also gained great pleasure working in both her flower and vegetable gardens. She was a member of the Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls, the Minnesota Education Association and the National Education Association. Although Phyl and Pete had no children, she loved her nieces and nephews as her own. Phyllis passed away at the Clara City Care Center on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the age of 82 years, 7 months and 18 days. She was preceded in death by a twin brother at birth, parents Art and Betsy Erickson, grand niece Amy Dirnberger, sister Ethel Dirnberger, and husband Iren "Pete". She is survived by her brother Denton (Darlene) Erickson of Hanley Falls, sister-in-law Ione Day of Reedley, CA, nieces and nephews: Alec (Darlene) Dirnberger of Echo, MN, Richard (Wendy) Dirnberger of Woodbury, MN, Diane (Tim) Knower of Lakeville, MN, Debra (Kris) Howard of New Prague, MN and David (Charity) Erickson of LeCenter, MN. She will also be dearly missed by her fourteen nieces and nephews. Visitation: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 ~ 1:00~2:00 p.m. Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church Funeral Service: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 ` 2:00 p.m. Clergy Officiating: Pastor Allan E. Johnson Organist: Soloist: Honorary Casketbearers: Stacy Smallfield, Erin Preston, Heidi Knower, Austin Knower, Greta Knower, Alexis Howard, Zachariah Howard, Mike Dirnberger Casketbearers: Kory Dirnberger, Jill Timm, Gary Dirnberger, Danika Marks, Dana Erickson, Erik Knower Final Resting Place: East Yellow Medicine Lutheran Cemetery, Hanley Falls, MN Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota