Phyllis M. Onsgard

Phyllis Onsgard, 85, Detroit Lakes, MN, formerly Moorhead, MN, died July 12, 2014 at The Cottage in Detroit Lakes, MN.
The following was written by Phyllis.

Phyllis Mae Onsgard was born September 6, 1928 at Hillsboro, ND, the daughter of Henry and Laura Larson. She was baptized on November 21, 1929 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, and was confirmed there on June 11, 1944. She attended schools in Bloomfield Township and graduated from Hillsboro High School in June 1945 at the age of 16. She attended Concordia College in Moorhead for two years, and in the fall of 1947 married Wallace Onsgard of Halstad, MN. Mr. Onsgard died on August 12, 1996.

Mrs. Onsgard, a Moorhead resident since 1947, is survived by three sons: Brad, Aspen, CO; Brian, Lake Eunice, MN; Brent Anthea, Alpharetta, GA; and five grandchildren: Whitney, Carl, Lucas, Adam and Alex.

Phyllis taught piano for many years, and also was very active in all levels of republican politics. In 1974, she was elected to the Moorhead City Council as 4th Ward Alderwoman. She resigned that position in March, 1977 to assume the position as 7th Congressional District Manager for US Representative Arlan Stangeland, a position she held until January 1, 1991. In 1977, she was elected Woman of the Year in Government by the YWCA. Phyllis was a candidate for Congress in the 1992 Minnesota Republican primary.

She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church for many years, having served as Sunday school superintendent for eight years, a member of various other committees, and chaired the Evangelism Committee as a member of the Trinity Church Council. She was an associate member of Cormorant Lutheran Church where she attended in the summer months.

Phyllis was a member and past president of Quota International, a women’s service club, served on the board of the American Red Cross, and on the advisory committee for Senior Options. She was president of the Becker County Coalition of Lake Associations, a member of the Moorhead Charter Commission, regional council member for Minnesota Public Radio, chair of the Moorhead Public Housing Authority, and a member of Sons of Norway and Concordia C-400.

Phyllis often said how fortunate she was to have such fantastic, caring parents, as well as the caring guidance of Pastor C. F. Savereide of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hillsboro. He was a wonderful confirmation teacher, and because of him she accepted Christ as her Savior, learned to turn her concerns to the Lord and to live each day to the best of her ability and strength. Her two years at Concordia College were great and she was so thankful for that time. Phyllis had a very loving and caring husband who was a great father to their three sons as well as a person who allowed her to grow and become her own person as well as his mate.

Psalm 121 was very dear to Phyllis as it reminded her of her wonderful journey through life. Favorite Bible verses were: “My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and earth”; “All things work for good to those who love the Lord”; and, “Be not dismayed, for I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand”.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in memory of Phyllis to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Visitation: Thursday, July 17, 2014, from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.
Funeral: Friday, July 18, 2014, at 10:30 A.M. in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.
Interment: Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.
Video tribute and online guestbook at www.wrightfuneral.com