Phyllis was baptized and later confirmed her faith at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Morristown. Her confirmation was March 29, 1942. Her father was a builder and her mother was a homemaker.
After graduating from Morristown High School, Phyllis studied at the Kahler School of Nursing, doing rotations at Mayo Clinic’s hospital. Part of her training also included six months of clinical rotations at two hospitals in Chicago. Phyllis worked as a nurse at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and at the University of Minnesota Hospital before marrying Edward Dicke on February 5, 1954.
Phyllis served alongside her husband in Papua New Guinea as missionaries for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod from 1954-1974. She used her nursing skills to treat sick and injured people who came to the back door for first aid. In some ways she was a triage nurse as she sometimes had to refer people to the hospital. She also taught Sunday school; showed local women how to sew; assisted mothers in caring for twins; and kept up with her four growing children.
Upon returning to the USA, Phyllis went through driver’s training to get her license. She attended classes to renew her nursing license and worked as the evening charge nurse at two different nursing homes. First in Dassel, Minnesota and more recently at Woodbury Care Center. She retired in 1994. Phyllis is remembered by many for her gift of hospitality. In Papua New Guinea she served many new missionary families their first meal. Back in the USA she welcomed missionary families who were just passing through. She also supported her husband’s volunteer work with the Papua New Guinea Mission Society.
Phyllis loved information and collected many medical articles; clippings of missionary history; and pamphlets that reflected her strong faith. Phyllis loved sewing; finding bargains at garage sales; doing puzzles; listening to music and spending time with her family.
Phyllis is survived by her children Mark Dicke, Jeanne Dicke, Martin (Marie) Dicke, Kay (Roger) Rehbein; grandchildren Caroline (Zach) Sanderson, Daniel Rehbein, Sarah (Jonah) Menough; great-granddaughter Mabel Sanderson; sisters Muriel Jaster, Shirley Rabuse, Marjorie (Roger) Wilkowske, Lilas (Gary) Anderson; brother Neil Krause; and many nieces and nephews.
Phyllis is preceded in death by Edward, her husband of 63 years; parents, Herbert and Erna Krause; and by her sister Beatrice Voelker.
Memorial service will be held at Woodbury Lutheran Church on Wednesday September 5th, 11AM. Visitation one hour prior to service. Interment at Union Cemetery.
Memorials to, Papua New Guinea Mission Society; LCMS-Missions-for Papua New Guinea; Woodbury Lutheran Church.
