Phyllis Lorraine Pleines was born on June 8, 1937 at Ashley, ND, the daughter of Jacob and Emma (Bendewald) Reuther, and passed away on May 9, 2026 at Eventide, Jamestown.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 15th at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Pettibone. Special Music by David Morlock. Burial will take place at Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Pettibone, with a lunch to follow at Pettibone Community Hall.

Phyllis was the youngest of four children and went to school in Ashley. After graduation, she worked as a nurse in Ashley from 1956 to 1959, when she met her future husband, Clarence at the doctor’s office. Clarence was working construction at the time and they were married on March 29, 1959 at Zion Lutheran Church in Ashley. They lived in Bismarck for a while, Phyllis worked as a nurse at Bismarck Hospital and Clarence worked for Luehr Construction that summer and later for MidContinent Construction Company of Jamestown in 1960. In the fall of 1960, they moved on the Pleines home place northwest of Pettibone and farmed there until the spring of 1969, when they purchased the Pete Guthmiller farm six miles southeast of Pettibone. They farmed, milked dairy cows, and raised stock cattle for several years.

Phyllis was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Pettibone and was a member of the Lions club. Above all else, she loved her family. Her home was a place of comfort, warmth, and full plates. No one ever left her home without “lunch,” a home-made cookie, or a pop for the road. Family gatherings were her greatest joy and she took pride in caring for those she loved through simple gifts of a well-stocked table, garden produce, and canned goods prepared with hard work throughout the year. Phyllis was strong and resilient; a woman who worked tirelessly for her family and carried a deep love for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She worried about them often, prayed for them always, and found her greatest purpose in making sure they were cared for. Her legacy lives on in the traditions she passed down, the meals shared around the table, and the steadfast love she gave so freely. She and Clarence were married for 67 years. 

Phyllis leaves behind her loving husband, Clarence; daughter Brenda and son-in-law Steve Seil; grandchildren Lisa and Drew Neumiller, and Andrew Seil; son Kevin Pleines; granddaughter Hayley and Bryan Wolf; son Marty Pleines; granddaughter Emma; and 10 great-grandchildren. Welcoming her to heaven was her granddaughter Shanna Seil-Knutson, her parents, siblings and in-laws. 

The family would like to thank Ave Maria Heritage Centre, Eventide, and JRMC Hospice for all their love and care provided to Phyllis and Clarence.