Spitzer/Miller Funeral Home
Private celebration of Christian burial for Phyllis Jilek Haselhorst, 90, of Aberdeen, SD, will be 11:00 am, Monday, October 26, 2020 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with Pastor Jeff Whillock officiating. You can watch the livestream of the service by following the link under her picture on the online obituary. Burial at Riverside Cemetery. Please follow CDC guidelines and wear a mask. Phyllis passed away peacefully with family present on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, at Primrose Cottages in Aberdeen.
Public Visitation will be 2:00-7:00 pm, Sunday, with family present from 4:00-7:00 pm at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 South Main Street.
Phyllis Magdalene Ristau was born August 6, 1930, on a farm near Mansfield, SD, to William and Ella (Dahme) Ristau. Phyllis was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran, rural Aberdeen, where she was also the organist during high school. While growing up on the farm, Phyllis and brother Donald attended "Busy Bee" one room school through 8th grade. She attended school in Warner to complete her high school education. Phyllis was active in school sports, music, and debate.
Phyllis attended Northern State Teacher's College and earned a teaching certificate. She taught in a two-room school in Mansfield. She married Harold Jilek in 1950 at St. John's Lutheran. They lived between Mellette and Brentford on the Jilek farm near the confluence of the James River and Mud Creek. Harold and Phyllis became parents of two children, Michael and Nancy. They attended Bethany Lutheran Church, and Phyllis taught Sunday school, was active in Ladies Aide, and chaperoned many youth group activities. Phyllis was a secretary and teacher's aide at the Northwestern School District for many years, working in Northville, Brentford, and Mellette.
They farmed until 1980, when they moved to Aberdeen. Phyllis and Harold attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Phyllis was active with youth programs and especially cherished mentoring at the New Beginning Center.
Phyllis was a volunteer patient escort and gift shop clerk for many years at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen. She belonged to the hospital auxiliary and served as president. She represented the group at state and national conventions. Phyllis was especially proud of helping establish the St. Luke's Auxiliary Guesthouse, and of the mammography unit donated to the hospital by the Auxiliary.
Harold passed away in 2000. Phyllis married Harold (Hal) Haselhorst in 2003 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. They lived in Aberdeen and Mesa, Arizona until 2016 when Hal passed away. Phyllis returned to Aberdeen and resided at Parkside Independent Living and Primrose Cottages.
Grateful for having shared Phyllis' life are her son, Michael (Jeanine) Jilek; son-in-law Jamie Benoit; her grandchildren Darren Jilek, Michelle (Chris) Reams, Seth Kneebone, Austin (Jessica) Benoit, and Kalynn Benoit.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her daughter Nancy, a grandchild Nathan Jilek,
brother Donald (Lois) Ristau, husbands Harold Jilek and Hal Haselhorst, and her parents.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Parkside (Bethesda), Primrose Cottages, Dr. Shirleen Smook, and nurse Connie for the care extended to Phyllis during her final years. www.spitzerfuneralhome.com
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