Obituary of Phyllis Olesen

Olesen Phyllis

Phyllis A. Olesen, age 96, of Yankton, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Monday, October 21, 2024. Visitation will be Sunday November 3, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 pm with a 7:00 pm prayer service all at Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home in Yankton. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am, Monday November 4, 2024, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton with Fr. Bob Lacey officiating. Interment will be at St. Boniface Cemetery (Idylwilde) in rural Freeman, SD at 1:30 pm. Livestreaming of Phyllis’s funeral service can be viewed at: https://server.attend.live/static/event/pYzWy. Online condolences may be sent at www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.

Phyllis was born August 9, 1928, to William and Rose (Dangel) Massey in rural Freeman, S.D. On September 5, 1944, Phyllis married LeRoy Olesen shortly before he was drafted into the army and sent to Japan. After his return, they spent many years on the farm raising their eleven children. When the children were older, Phyllis started working in housekeeping, first at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, then at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Viborg, and finally at the Human Services Center in Yankton, where she served as Housecleaning Supervisor. Phyllis was also well known for the 22 years she worked at Walmart in Yankton, beginning in the Garden Department, moving to the Pet Department, and finishing her time there as a greeter.

Phyllis enjoyed gardening. While on the farm, she always had a large vegetable garden and canned thousands of jars of fruits & vegetables during her lifetime. She loved flowers and was particularly fond of roses. She was an excellent cook and baker. The kids delighted in coming home daily from school to find homemade bread, as well as some type of cake, pie, or cookie awaiting them. Phyllis loved to embroider and gave away hundreds of dish towels to family and friends throughout her life.

Phyllis loved to travel and had an adventuresome spirit. For two years in her eighties, she wintered in Arizona with her son, Mark. While there, she tried out skydiving at age 85—and loved it!            

Phyllis was a lifelong Catholic, and at various times in her life, was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, rural Freeman, St. Benedict’s in Yankton, and Sacred Heart, Yankton. 

Family was always number one in her heart. Her memory will be cherished by her surviving children, Burnell (Mary) of Hurley, David of Yankton, Mary (Rodger) Wenzlaff of Yankton, Blanche (Allen) Vannorsdel of Viborg, Peggy (Dave) Martin of Platte, Bonnie (Dave) Hubbs of Yankton, Brenda (Dan) Hauser of Mitchell, LeRoy Jr. of Parker, 2 daughters-in-law, Mary Olesen of Yankton, and Michele Olesen of Sioux Falls, sister-in-law, Janice Massey of Yankton, and brother, Tom(Anita) Massey of Las Vegas, NV.  She will be remembered with much love by her 29 grandchildren, her 46 great-grandchildren, and her 6 great-great-grandchildren, for a total of 81.

She was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy, their 3 sons, Mark, Garland, and Tim, 3 granddaughters, Candice Olesen, Rebecca Miller, and Jaden White, brothers, Bob and Ed, her mother, Rose, and her father, William.

Also, she hopes that all her family received a shred of decency and not just bad feet from her.