Phyllis Pundt
Phyllis June (Smith) Pundt, 83, recently a resident of Bethany Good Samaritan nursing home in Brainerd found her eternal rest Tuesday morning, Jan. 6, 2009. She was born on June 2, 1945, near Verndale, Minn., to Vincent and Selma Smith. Phyllis grew up on the family farm with seven sisters and two brothers. She graduated from Verndale High School, married Waldemar "Wally" Pundt on Aug. 8, 1944, and spent most of her life keeping a household and raising two sons and a daughter. Phyllis enjoyed sewing, gardening, fishing, volunteering and traveling with her best friend, Wally. She was the volunteer secretary for her local Aid Association to Lutherans group for more than 30 years; volunteered at the Lakes Area Senior Center; helped operate the Fine Arts Building at the Crow Wing County Fair; won hundreds of prizes at the Crow Wing and Wadena County Fairs for her baked goods, handcrafts and sewing projects; and was a longstanding member of Zion Lutheran Church in Brainerd. Late in life, she joined the American Legion. An accomplishment for which Phyllis felt proud was getting her driver's license for the first time at age 69.
Phyllis Pundt
She is survived by two sons, David (Carol) Pundt, of Baxter, and Steven (Sally) Pundt, of Minneapolis; one daughter, Julie (Paul) Adelman, of Portland, Ore.; six sisters, Helen (Archie) Coson and Evelyn Pundt, of Wadena, Beatrice (Monroe) Nichols, of Staples, Lillian (Wilbur) Messer, of Brooklyn Park, Delores Quick, St. Paul, Rozella Rudy, Las Vegas; and one brother, Melvin (Margaret) Smith, of Wadena; two grandchildren, Nathan Pundt and Kristen Pundt; two step-grandchildren, Christina (Dan) Hochstaetter and Jeremiah (Jaime) Hales; four step-great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Warren; a sister, Dorothy; and Wally, her husband of 49 years.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Brainerd. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Brainerd. Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 9, at the Halvorson-Johnson Funeral Home in Brainerd from 5-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Memorials to Bethany Good Samaritan Village appreciated.
Arrangements are with the Halvorson-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Brainerd.