Phylis Y. Mathiason
HARTINGTON — Phylis Y. Mathiason, 81, Hartington, died Nov. 23, 2022, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, S.D.
Funeral Services were Nov. 29 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hartington, with the Rev. Amanda Talley officiating.
Burial was at the Hartington City cemetery.
Pallbearers were Joey Leise, Jayson Mathiason, Mathew Mathiason, Colten Benson, Andrew Walter and Jacob Anderson. Honorary pallbearers were Phylis’ grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Phylis Mathiason
Visitation was Nov. 28 at the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington, and continued Tuesday, one hour prior to services. Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.
Phylis Yvonne was born July 22, 1941, in Wynot, to John and Pearl (Provancha) Olsen. She grew up east of Hartington and graduated from Hartington Public School. Phylis married Curtis Anton James Mathiason Sept. 7, 1958, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartington. Curt and Phylis moved to Laurel and lived there for many years and raised their family.
Phylis worked as a prep cook at the Wagon Wheel Steakhouse, where she was known for her delicious salads on their famous salad bar. She later opened and operated The Country Café, Laurel, where she became known for her amazing pies and cookies. She then worked for Tooties Restaurant, owned by her three daughters, in Hartington, as their cook, making meals, pies, soups, and cookies for over 10 years. Phylis continued as a cook when she began working in the Holy Trinity School cafeteria and then at the Hartington Senior Center.
Phylis loved spending time with her family, going on vacations with them and camping. She loved going to Colorado and was always excited to go somewhere. Phylis really enjoyed making many, many pies for the Lutheran fair stand every summer. She also took orders and made pies to order. She was a very kind and soft-hearted person to those who knew her.
Phylis is survived by her five children, Lori (Jerry) Leise, Hartington; Jay (Barbara) Mathiason, Coleridge; Alan (Valerie) Mathiason, Pierce, Colo.; Kim Benson and Nick Opfer, Hartington; Brandi Huss and Bill Elwell, Tea, S.D.; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley Haberer, Morris, Minn.; two sisters-in-law, Janice Olsen, Hartington, and Darlene Olsen, Minnesota; brother-in-law, Claude (Bonnie) Mathiason, Hartington; sister-in-law, Viola Krupka, Schuyler; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Mathiason; parents, John and Pearl Olsen; step mother, Mary Olsen; infant sister; brothers, Duane (Dorothy) Olsen, Dallas (Tootie) Olsen, Mike “Marlove” Olsen (wives, Bonnie and Berneice), Robert Olsen, Dean Olsen, Donna (Myron) Riibe; father and mother-in-law, Alvin (Theda Steffen) Mathiason; sisterin-law, Lina (Dan) Suing; brother-in-law, Richard Krupka.