Lucille Phillips Lidbeck

Lucille (Phillips) Lidbeck, 75, a resident of Fergus Falls, went to her heavenly home on November 9, 2013, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born December 3, 1937, the daughter of Howard Edgar and Alice Lauretta (Howell) Eastman, in Browns Valley, MN. Her birth took place at her great grandmother’s home (Amanda Behrns) who was the local midwife. She was baptized at First Presbyterian Church of Wilmot, South Dakota. Lucille attended country school at Lee #3 in Roberts County, South Dakota. In 1955 she graduated from Wilmot High School. From 1955 to 1957 she attended Northern States College in Aberdeen and graduated with a two year Teacher Certificate. In 1985 she graduated from Moorhead State University with a B.S. Degree in teaching.

On March 23, 1957, she married Robert Dean Phillips at the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmot. The couple started their life together in Aberdeen, SD. Their life in Minnesota began in 1976 and they resided in Fergus Falls and Moorhead until his death in 1990. The following years she enjoyed winters in Mesa, Arizona. In 2005 she found love again and married Lloyd Lidbeck in Moorhead, MN.

She was a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod from 1958 to the present where she served many roles including Sunday school teacher and Superintendent, choir member, and served on the Mission Committee. She was a lifelong active member on the society and zone level of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League where she served three terms on the District Board, Minnesota North District including President. She was founder of the Girl Scouts and Meals on Wheels in Britton, South Dakota; president of the St. Ansgar Hospital Auxiliary, Moorhead, and a member of D.R. Chapter and PEO also of Moorhead. She served as President of the Lake Region Hospital Auxiliary and continued as a member of the Chapter D.R. and PEO while in Fergus Falls.

Lucille enjoyed making many award winning quilts. She also hiked the Grand Canyon twice and took up the sport of tennis, both while in her 60’s. She continued to stay active in retirement by volunteering wherever she could which included decorating floats at the Rose Bowl Parade. She especially enjoyed her travels with her four cherished sisters and later trips with several special cousins.

Her life changed in 2008 when she began falling unexpectedly. It was determined that she had PSP, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Her life changed severely, but she never lost her spirit.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Howard and Alice, a son Steven in 1987, her husbands, Robert in 1990 and Lloyd in 2006, a brother-in-law, Bill Minder, and a sister-in-law Dorene Beaver.

She will be missed by many friends and family including her children: Pam Phillips (fiancé Tom Wilkinson), Fergus Falls, MN; Dave (Tracey) Phillips, Jacksonville, FL, and Kathy Hanson, Fergus Falls, MN; grandchildren: Nicole Verhelst, Brainerd, MN, Jessie Verhelst, Bellingham, WA, Austin Hanson, Fergus Falls, MN, and Landon Phillips, Jacksonville, FL. She is also survived by four sisters, Edie Minder, Sioux Falls, SD, Ruth Ellen (Maurice) Beaver, Wilmot, SD, Janet (Bob) Osterloh, San Antonio, TX, and Maurita (Lee) Barthleman, Kearney, NE; and one brother-in-law, Max Beaver of Wilmot, SD.

Memorials are preferred to CurePSP. Mail to CurePSP, 30 E. Padonia Road, Suite 201, Timonium MD 21093, or donate online at www.curepsp.org .

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Tuesday with a public prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 13, 2013, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Roger Lange
Interment: Wilmot Cemetery, Wilmot, South Dakota
Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota