Services for Phyllis (Girard) Stebe
Phyllis (Girard) Stebe, 81, of Gonvick died on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at her home.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Samhold Lutheran Church in Gonvick with Pastor Larry Dorman officiating. Visitation will begin 1-hour prior at the church. Interment will be held at the Samhold Cemetery in the spring. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
Phyllis was born on September 11, 1939 in Bemidji, the daughter and only child of Ernest and Emma (Caldwell) Girard. She was devoted to her parents. She began working at age 10, helping her father on his rounds with the bread truck after his hired help entered the military. Phyllis grew up in Bemidji and graduated from Bemidji High School in 1957. She worked as a broadcaster on KBUN; she shared many humorous stories of meeting famous professional baseball and football players. She married Franklin Stebe in Bemidji on May 10, 1958. They lived on a hobby farm east of the Power Dam which is now Greenwood Golf Course. In 1966, they adopted their son Timothy Allen when he was 14 months old. They were beyond proud of him. In 1970, Franklin took a job transfer and the family moved to Gonvick. Phyllis worked at the Red Owl until she retired in 1989. After her retirement, she kept the financial records for the Gonvick American Legion charitable gambling which required monthly reporting to the State of Minnesota.
Phyllis especially treasured the times she and Frank cheered on their grandkids in their basketball and volleyball games. No matter how far the distance or the bad the weather, Frank and Phyllis were always in the stands to cheer Scottie and Cassie on. It was a special time for their family to be together; it created many cherished memories during the years the kids were in high school and college.
Phyllis was an exceptionally talented woman who could repair and do most anything. She enjoyed bowling, bingo and classic country music. She loved camping and fishing, especially the family fishing trips to Canada. On one trip, she caught a 15-pound walleye while Franklin stayed behind in camp. She had the walleye stuffed and hung him on the wall. She raised and trained German Shepard dogs for law enforcement. She loved teacup chihuahuas and big horses; she was especially proud of her big Tennessee Walking horse, Jimmy, that she showed in parades. She was a very honest, direct, tell-it-like-it-is person. She was a true friend and kept many confidences and secrets. She loved the wide-open spaces of a small town and knew everyone in Gonvick.
She is survived by her son Tim (Sandy) Stebe, grandson Scott (Allison) Stebe, granddaughter Cassie (Nick) Spray and great-grandson- Isaac Spray, all of Gonvick.
She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com
