Foley, Minnesota
Phyllis J. Stanley, 84, resident of Clitherall, died Oct. 27, 2024, at Park Gardens Senior Living.
Phyllis was born Feb. 4, 1940, at home near Staples to Joseph P. and Pearl H. (Bakken) Didier. Due to her father’s employment, they moved multiple times, which included the Deerwood-Crosby area, Grand Rapids and a move to Oregon. In 1951, her family moved to Two Harbors. She attended Two Harbors High School. In 1958, Phyllis moved to Brainerd, where she met the love of her life John Stanley. They married Nov. 25, 1961, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. They moved to White Bear Lake, where they had four children. John and Phyllis purchased a small hobby farm in Foley July 1, 1967, where they had two more children.
Phyllis managed their sanitation business from 1972 until 1977. She started with Crystal Cabinets in 1978 and retired Aug. 30, 2005. She also worked as a certified nursing assistant as a secondary job for many years. She devoted much of her life to raising her children, which included many years of 4-H and attending many school activities. She also really enjoyed serving her church.
She enjoyed her summers camping, gardening and working on the hobby farm. Her passions in life were her faith, husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survived by her children, Michael (Cathy), John “Jack” (Penny), Janiece (Rusty) Peck, Suzanne (Robert) Sycks, Rebecca (Paul) Mecklenburg, Beth Ann (Mark) Foerderer; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a brother, Duane Didier.
Phyllis is preceeded in death by her parents; husband, John; and great-granddaughter, Saylor Marsh.
Funeral services were 11 a.m. Nov. 1 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brainerd. Visitation times were 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Nelson-Doran Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Friday at the church. The burial will be in Bethel Lutheran Cemetery.
The Stanley family wants to give a heartfelt thank you to the entire staff at Park Gardens Senior Living in Fergus Falls.
Arrangements are being completed by Nelson-Doran Funeral Home, Brainerd.
F-45-1B
