Phyllis Smedshammer, 84, LaMoure, ND died at St. Rose Care Center in LaMoure on October 11, 2020. Her funeral service will be Friday, October 16, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Faith Lutheran Church, Valley City, ND. Visitation will be held there on Thursday from 5:00-7:00 PM and an hour before the service on Friday. CDC and local health guidelines will be followed regarding Covid 19, masks will be required. She will be laid to rest at the North LaMoure Cemetery. The service will be live streamed then archived and available to be viewed along with her obituary and online guestbook at www.lerudschuldt.com
Phyllis was born September 27th, 1936 to Albert (Bud) and Edna (Simonson) Pollert in Douglas, ND. At the age of 2, her family moved to a farm south of Litchville, ND near the Griswold area. She was baptized, confirmed, and married at the Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Litchville. She graduated from Litchville High School.
On April 24th, 1955, she married Curtis Smedshammer. A few weeks after being married, Curtis was deployed overseas to France. Phyllis then lived in Valley City, ND where she worked at S+L clothing store and later Foss Drug. After Curtis’s return, they moved to a farmstead south of Litchville, near the North LaMoure area known as the “homestead”. Phyllis worked side by side with Curtis farming, milking cows, raising chickens, cattle, and of course, four fine daughters; Vickie, Vonne, Valie, and VaNita. In 1970, they moved to Curtis’s parents farm along highway 1 near the North LaMoure Church. In 2002, they retired and moved south to LaMoure, ND. In 2017, due to health concerns they moved to Valley City, ND, recently returning to LaMoure.
Phyllis was a member of the North LaMoure Lutheran Church. She devoted much time and energy to her church and community. She was active with the Farmers Union being a County Youth Leader for 36 years, Camp Director 15 years, and served as State Field Staff. She was an advocate for the family farmers.
She enjoyed her coffee time with the ladies, sewing and quilting, playing cards, auction sales, dancing, camping, going to the lake, and of course, spending time and following her children and grandchildren’s events.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Curtis, LaMoure, ND, her daughters, Vickie (Randy) Meidinger, Marion, ND, Vonne (Charlotte Viou) Smedshammer of Moorhead, MN, Valie (Kent VanEnk) Ringsaker, of Marion, ND, VaNita (Brad) Rodin of Marion, ND. 8 grandchildren Katie Meidinger, Randa (Riley) Carlson, Chris (Rachel) Rodin, Cory (Alison) Rodin, Kayla (Matthew) Cuypers, Shawn (Brittany) Ringsaker, Scott (Kre) Ringsaker, Shelby Ringsaker. 6 great-grandchildren Ross and Røwen Carlson, Alaina and Parker Rodin, Madalyn and Mason Cuypers; brothers Donald Pollert, Clayton (Ginny) Pollert, Ken (Pat) Pollert, sister in-laws Elaine (Jim) Hilscher, Maxine Smedshammer.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, grandson Ross Meidinger, brother Mural (Lee) Pollert, sisters Leona (Don) Severson and Lila(Ray) Lebahn, sister in-law Georgine Pollert, Brother in-law Delmer (Margaret) Smedshammer.
Blessed be her memory “So Be It”
Lerud Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City is assisting Phyllis’ family with arrangements.