Phyllis Krefting

Phyllis Marie (Mohn) Gilbertson Krefting, age 88 of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, passed away on November 28, 2014 at her home at Norris Square, Cottage Grove.

Phyllis was born on June 24, 1926, the only daughter of Ole and Ella Marie (Eliason) Mohn, in Woodville, Wisconsin. She had two brothers, Leo and Walter. She was baptized and confirmed at North Rush River Lutheran Church, south of Baldwin, Wisconsin. She went to Wildwood School through eighth grade and graduated from Woodville High School.

On April 11, 1945, Phyllis was married to Orville Gilbertson at the North Rush River Lutheran Church. In 1947, they bought a small farm east of Woodville on Highway 12, where they were blessed with and raised their four children Sandra, Larry, James and Dennis. They were divorced in 1977.

Phyllis was a devoted stay-at-home mother and an excellent cook. She worked on the farm and milked cows tirelessly. When all her children became school-age, she worked at Sandy Lee Manufacturing in Menomonie. In the 1970's she began working at the Federal Crop Insurance office in Baldwin and, several years later, she was recruited to work in the St. Paul regional office. She worked there as Claims Specialist and Staff Assistant until her retirement in 1988. She truly enjoyed her work and her office friends.

In 1990, Phyllis was married to Kenneth F. Krefting at her home church, Peace Lutheran (North Rush River), in Baldwin, WI. Phyllis and Ken lived in Cottage Grove and traveled extensively after their retirement. Her memories included trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Germany and her mother's homeland of Norway. Additionally, every winter she and Ken traveled on extended vacations to various spots in Florida, Arkansas, Texas, Arizona, California and Alabama, their favorite being Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama. She always wanted to return home after five or six weeks, though, because she missed her family. Phyllis and Ken's favorite pastime was playing golf together, which they usually did several times a week until she was in her 80's. Phyllis was also an avid Packers fan.

Preceding her in death were her parents, son Dennis at age 26, brothers Leo and Walter, sisters-in-law Elayne Johnson, Helene Shockley, Edna Johnson, Olive Grace and Aleda Holmly.

Survivors include her devoted husband Kenneth; loving children, Sandra Phernetton of Cottage Grove, Larry (Susan) Gilbertson of Baldwin, WI; James (Roxanne) Gilbertson of Menomonie; stepsons Fred (Denise) Krefting of Waukee, IA, and Brian (Cheryl) Krefting of Bloomington, MN; 10 grandchildren, Bradley (Jennifer) Phernetton, Karla Gilbertson, Tim (Gretchen) Gilbertson, Michael (Jessica) Gilbertson, Joshua Gilbertson, Jaden Gilbertson, Kevin (Lana) Krefting, Jessica Krefting, Courtney Krefting and Kiersten Krefting; 12 great-grandchildren, Logan, Evan and Natalie Phernetton; Payton Gilbertson; Louise, Brady and Annie Gilbertson; Shyla, Jace, Aleigha and Kylah Gilbertson; Kensley Grace Krefting; sisters-in-law Irma Mohn of Woodville, WI, Dolores Vrieze of Hammond, WI, Dorothy Larson of Columbia Heights, MN, Frances (Kenneth) Hall of Grand Forks, ND, and Viola Martinole of Kent, WA; numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and many. many loving friends.

Funeral services will be at 11am, Monday, December 1, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church, South St. Paul, 535 – 20th Ave. N. Visitation will be Sunday, 2-5pm at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 – 80th St. S., Cottage Grove, and also one hour prior to the service at church. Interment at a later date at the Peace Lutheran Cemetery, Baldwin, WI. Readings were done by Phyllis's granddaughter Karla Gilbertson and stepson Fred Krefting. Pallbearers were Phyllis's grandsons, Bradley Phernetton, Kevin Krefting, Tim Gilbertson, Michael Gilbertson, Joshua Gilbertson and Jaden Gilbertson.