Phyllis Ohrt

Phyllis was born July 11, 1924, at Winnipeg, Manitoba to John Murray Ruxton and Ethel Smith Anderson. Both of her parents were born in Scotland, but met and were married in Winnipeg. Phyllis had two brothers Edwin 'Ted' John (Louise) Ruxton of Montreal, Quebec and Douglas William (Carol) Ruxton at Garibaldi Highlands, British Columbia. Phyllis attended schools in Norwood (a suburb of Greater Winnipeg), graduating from Nelson McIntyre High School in 1943. After a year or two working in a wartime Cordite plant at Transcona MB and at the McDonald Aircraft factory, in Winnipeg, she entered Nursing School at Winnipeg's Victoria General Hospital, graduating in 1948. She became an Obstetrical Nurse at Grace Hospital (Salvation Army) in Winnipeg.. On June 11, 1949, Phyllis and Allen Ohrt were married in Grace United Church, at Winnipeg. They then emigrated to the United States, settling in Kenmare North Dakota where Phyllis worked as a Surgical Nurse, in the Deaconess Hospital. Later the couple lived in Seattle Washington, Maple Ridge, BC;. returning to Norwood, Manitoba and finally in Fargo, since 1964. Phyllis & Allen had five children: Heather in Iowa City, IA; Holly (Ian Schloz), in Eugene, OR; Jule (Charlie Jacoby) in Iowa City, IA, Harry, in St. Paul, MN; and Hayley (Tim Rensema) in Fredericksburg, VA. Eight grandchildren: Ruxton & Spencer Smith; Christian & Adam Kolle; Devin & Jasmine Scholz; Tristan & Elspeth Rensema. Two great grandchildren: Alex & Madison Kolle. Phyllis was a stay-at-home mother, but was also a teachers' assistant at Hawthorne Elementary. She was a member of Mecca Chapter, Order of Eastern Star and was Grand Representative to Bolivia in 2005. She served as a board member of Rainbow for Girls and received the Grand Cross of Colours. She was a Den Mother for Cub Scouts. Phyllis was a long-time member of a Moorhead Homemakers Club. Phyllis was an active supporter of Masonic Grand Lodge and Grand York Rite Masonic activities. In 2004, she was honored as Companion of the Temple by Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States. Phyllis was a member of St. Andrew's Scottish Society, from its beginning. She was very proud of her Scottish ancestry and loved to visit her relatives in Scotland. Her ancestry included Scottish clan names, Anderson, Simpson and Napier, but she adopted the Murray of Atholl plaid (Murray being her paternal grandmother's maiden surname). Phyllis was a resident at Elim Home, for several months. She will be greatly missed as an affectionate and caring mother and loving spouse. Phyllis died November 20, 2010. May she rest in peace. Memorial Service: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 5:00 PM at First Congregational UCC, Fargo, ND. Visitation: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 from 6:00 – 7:00 PM at the church. Inurnment: Milestone Cemetery, Milestone, Saskatchewan.