Phyllis Schwagerl

Phyllis Schwagerl, age 90, resident of Browns Valley, MN, died on February 27, 2017 at Holy Trinity Hospital in Graceville.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 4, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Fr. Stan Wieser officiating. Organist will be Norma Jung with special music provided by Jennifer Miller. Casket Bearers will be: Pat Miller, David Westman, Peter Schwagerl, Chris Schwagerl, Josh Schwagerl and Steve Spindler.Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Browns Valley, MN.

Visitation will be Friday, March 3, from 5-7 p.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.


Phyllis Irene (Deyo) Schwagerl, daughter of Ted and Helen (Duehr) Deyo, was born in Watertown, South Dakota, on July 16, 1926. She started country school at the Bryant Township School, and then when her family moved into Browns Valley she attended school there. Phyllis and her future husband, Larry Schwagerl, first met as freshmen in high school. They both graduated from Browns Valley High School in 1944.

Phyllis worked through high school doing numerous jobs outside the home. She did housework for William Paul and his wife and also worked in her parent's store, Dan Dee Food Market, in Browns Valley. She loved music and played numerous instruments. Phyllis played piano with a dance band in high school, called the Cherokee Aces, which played at the Coliseum in Browns Valley. She later gave many of her children piano lessons when they were growing up.

Phyllis worked for the William Paul tax office after graduation from high school. She then moved to the Twin Cities where she worked for Honeywell, Inc. Phyllis was then offered a teaching position at Grant Township #4 Country School outside of Browns Valley.
After moving back to Browns Valley, Phyllis started dating Lawrence Schwagerl and they were married on August 28, 1946, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Browns Valley.

Larry and Phyllis were blessed with eight children, five daughters and three sons. Phyllis enjoyed being a mother and homemaker, along with helping on the farm when needed. Along with cooking, baking, and caring for her family, Phyllis enjoyed her garden and preserving all the bounty that it produced. She also spent many hours sewing and making clothes for her children. For enjoyment, Phyllis loved to do cross stitch, read, assembling jig saw puzzles, and then getting the cross stitch and puzzles framed.

When Larry and Phyllis purchased a lake cabin in the mid-1980s, they loved to spend time together fishing off the dock. For Larry and Phyllis, family was very important. They loved it when the family would get together and the grandchildren were around. Phyllis was always very caring about remembering birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions by sending each family member a greeting card and a gift of money.

Phyllis is survived by her children: Diana (Fran) Miller of Brandon, SD; Barbara (Richard) Higinbotham of Sun City West, AZ; Connie (Byron) Westman of Wadena, MN; Peggy (Jerry) Spindler of Browerville, MN; Jerry (Renee) Schwagerl of Beardsley, MN; Bill (Bev) Schwagerl of Brooklyn Park, MN; Dick (Sandy) Schwagerl of Overland Park, KS; and Janelle (Dave) Tritz of Dumont, MN; 26 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Kathleen Borgheiinck of Browns Valley, MN, and Marion Deyo of La Crescent, MN; brother-in-law, Bob Beumer of Browns Valley, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Helen Deyo; husband, Lawrence Schwagerl; sisters: Charlotte Goehring, Doris Beumer, and Mary Lou Toelle; and brother, Keith Deyo.