1918
Phyllis
2017
Phyllis C. Pratt
August 2, 1918 — September 25, 2017
Phyllis Pratt died Monday, September 25, 2017, at Bethany on University. She was born on August 2, 1918, at home in Portal, ND, to Seth and Josephine Crosby. Phyllis graduated from Portal High School. She was active in drama and basketball and when her team won the State Basketball Championship, her parents wouldn’t let her attend. She attended Concordia College in Moorhead and graduated from Minot State College in 1940. She met her husband, William Pratt, while they were teaching in Wolford, ND. She coached the women’s basketball team and directed the glee club. They were both advisors on the school newspaper. Bill and Phyllis married August 25, 1941.
Bill enlisted a few days after Pearl Harbor and they ended up in several locations during his military service. She taught school in Warrenton, San Antonio and Topeka. She was a general’s chauffer in Washington, DC. She had an office in the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale where she worked for the Department of Applied Physiology and did reference work for a book, “Alcoholic Studies.”
They returned to Fargo where she enjoyed the trials and tribulations of raising 4 boys. Besides the handful at home, she was active in Eastern Star, County Chairman for 17 years for the North Dakota Easter Seals, involved in the starting of the Opportunity School and State Membership Chairperson for the Republican Party, although the last several years she was voting Democrat. She loved books so after all the children were grown she got a job at B Dalton and owned a book store in Pelican Rapids. She was still reading 5-7 books a week this summer, all were romance novels.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Bill and son, Jay Douglas Pratt.
She is survived by sons, C. Robert, Fargo; son, Bradley (Beverly), Fargo; grandchild Sara Gjerdevig (Eric) West Fargo, great grandchildren Jordyn Viland and Jacob; grandchild, Steve (Gracia) Wayzata, MN, great grandchildren Annalyse and Camille; son, Gregory (Julie), Gardner, ND, and grandchild Marcus, Fargo.
The family would like memorials to go to Fraser Hall and The Vocational Training Center.
Bill enlisted a few days after Pearl Harbor and they ended up in several locations during his military service. She taught school in Warrenton, San Antonio and Topeka. She was a general’s chauffer in Washington, DC. She had an office in the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale where she worked for the Department of Applied Physiology and did reference work for a book, “Alcoholic Studies.”
They returned to Fargo where she enjoyed the trials and tribulations of raising 4 boys. Besides the handful at home, she was active in Eastern Star, County Chairman for 17 years for the North Dakota Easter Seals, involved in the starting of the Opportunity School and State Membership Chairperson for the Republican Party, although the last several years she was voting Democrat. She loved books so after all the children were grown she got a job at B Dalton and owned a book store in Pelican Rapids. She was still reading 5-7 books a week this summer, all were romance novels.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Bill and son, Jay Douglas Pratt.
She is survived by sons, C. Robert, Fargo; son, Bradley (Beverly), Fargo; grandchild Sara Gjerdevig (Eric) West Fargo, great grandchildren Jordyn Viland and Jacob; grandchild, Steve (Gracia) Wayzata, MN, great grandchildren Annalyse and Camille; son, Gregory (Julie), Gardner, ND, and grandchild Marcus, Fargo.
The family would like memorials to go to Fraser Hall and The Vocational Training Center.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Phyllis C. Pratt, please visit our flower store.
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Memorial Service
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
First Congregational UCC
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