Phyllis Heng Rohrer, 83, of Crookston, Minnesota, and a former resident of Maple Lake, near Mentor, Minnesota, died peacefully Friday evening, May 25, 2007, at the Villa St. Vincent Nursing Home in Crookston, with her three loving daughters at her bedside. Phyllis was born on August 25, 1923 in Fertile, Minnesota, and was the daughter of Nelmer P. and Gertrude M. (Bearson) Glain. She grew up at Fertile and was a 1941 graduate of Fertile High School. Phyllis attended the Northwest Institute of Medical Technology in Minneapolis and graduated as a lab and x-ray technician. That was followed by a move to Pawnee City, Nebraska, where she was employed at the City's clinic and hospital for the next four years. Phyllis then moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota to work for Dr. Ralph Leigh at his clinic. On October 7, 1946 she was united in marriage to Dean Thomas Heng at the First Methodist Church in Crookston. The couple made their home in Crookston and Phyllis was kept very busy in her roles as wife and mother of three daughters. Sadly, Dean passed away on September 8, 1967. One year later Phyllis began working at Crookston's Central High School. In 1978 she began employment with the Glenmore Recovery Center, also in Crookston. Phyllis was united in marriage to Ben H. Rohrer on August 30, 1985 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Crookston. Ben and Phyllis made their home at Maple Lake, while spending winters in Mesa, Arizona. Ben passed away on January 6, 2002. In May of that same year Phyllis moved to the Summit Apartments of the Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, and in October became a resident of the Nursing Home. Phyllis was a longtime member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Crookston. Throughout her life she was an avid bridge player and an ardent gardener. Times most special to Phyllis were always those spent with her family at the lake. She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by all whose lives she touched.
Loving family members include three daughters and sons-in-law, Trudi and Bruce Campbell of Bemidji, MN, Sally and Ron Tobkin of Perham, MN, and Patty and Jerry Anderson of Ottertail, MN; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a step-daughter and step son-in-law, Jennifer Rohrer and Gary Lazarowski of Seeley Lake, MT; two step-grandchildren; two brothers, Donald Glain of Big Fork, MT, and Gordon (Patsy) Glain of Quincy, CA; a sister, Ardith Pihlstrom of St. Paul, MN; and nieces and nephews. Besides her husbands, Dean and Ben, Phyllis was preceded in death by an infant son, Jerry Heng, who died in 1949; and her parents.
The funeral service for Phyllis Heng Rohrer will be held at 2:00PM, Wednesday, May 30, 2007, in the Wesley United Methodist Church in Crookston, with the Rev. Duane Gebhard, officiating. Visitation will be at the Church for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Concordia Cemetery in Fertile, Minnesota. The Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home of Crookston is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
