PHYLLIS HUBNER

Funeral services for Phyllis Hubner, 85, of Avon were Friday, August 24, at the Danzig Baptist Church, rural Avon. Burial was in the church cemetery. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Chapel in Avon was in charge of arrangements.

Phyllis Aloha Hubner was born October 1, 1932 in Slayton, Minnesota to Ernest and Jennie (Atkins) Staples. She died in her home August 20, 2018 at the age of 85 years, ten months and 20 days. She lived in the Slayton and surrounding area until she graduated from the 8th grade and went to work in the Slayton/ Worthington area. She met her husband to be Cliff Hubner, on a blind double date, although Cliff wasn’t her intended date. They were married on September 23, 1950 in the Baptist Church in Pipestone, Minnesota. Phyllis accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized May 25, 1952 by Pastor Walter Stein. She was a lifelong member of the Danzig Baptist Church of rural Avon, where she taught BibleSchoolandSundaySchool.

Cliff and Phyllis made their home on the family farm north of Avon, and farmed there until Cliff semi-retired in the late 80’s. She cooked for family and hired men most of her life, taking lunches to the field and adapting to the eating schedule of hard working farmers. That was: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner, lunch, and Supper, lunch. Two boys were born to their union, Gregg born in 1951 and Mike in 1953. Phyllis was an excellent bookkeeper, and kept track of Cliff’s livestock, farming, machinery and seed businesses. She loved to can food, and even a few weeks ago was canning cherries. She was always ready to set an extra plate at her kitchen table and was known for her positive attitude and generous spirit.

After Cliff suddenly died in 1998, it was a hard adjustment. She found more things to do including sewing rag rugs, and baking kuchen in the family tradition of her mother-in-law Pauline. Phyllis and Velma Meiers, who became widows the same year would serve lunch at Gregg’s auction sales and offer kuchen. She donated many kuchens to the Platte Christian School Auction and raised thousands of dollars. She could never understand why someone would pay $100 for one piece of kuchen. Phyllis also loved to fish, going with Cliff, Ron and Gail, and later to the lodge at Mobridge. She loved to play a little pinochle, but her favorite games were with her great-grandchildren, who always wanted to call “Great Grandma Phyllis” as soon as they got to Gregg’s.

Thankful for having shared her life are her sons Gregg (Marsha) and Mike from rural Avon; grandchildren Jesse (Jaimie) Hubner, Glenham, Jodi (Jason Van Ruler), Sioux Falls, Jamin (Jessica), Rapid City, and Jordan, Maui, HI; great-grandchildren: Josey, Jentry and Judd Hubner, Oliver, Isla and Finn Van Ruler and Dylan Valdez; half-brothers David and Brian Buchholz; half-sisters Mary Ann Peyton and Sandra Cochran; along with a sister-in-law Joyce Janssen; special nephew Ron (Gail) Hubner; and many other relatives and special lady friends.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, four brothers, Jim, Dale and Gary, and half-brother Leonard.