Phyllis Blanche Neitzert

It is with peace in our hearts that we announce the passing of Phyllis Blanche Neitzert on February 1, 2025 at the age of 88. Phyllis was born on May 19,1936 in Wadena, MN to Richard and Louise (Wiebesick) Sowers.

Phyllis grew up on the family farm near Leader, MN and little did she know just fields away lived the love of her life (Ralph Neitzert) who at the age of 16 gifted her a bracelet engraved with their initials. On August 4, 1954 Ralph and Phyllis got married in Staples, MN. Together they shared 62 years of love and raised five daughters.

Phyllis trained as a teacher, worked as a nurse’s aid, and worked many years in banking. However, her most fulfilling and challenging endeavor was raising and caring for her family.

Phyllis enjoyed sharing the outdoors with family. She fished the many lakes of Minnesota and boundary water area and snowmobiled northern Minnesota and Colorado mountains. She enjoyed ATV riding over many wild areas of Colorado, Utah and Arizona. Phyllis and Ralph visited campsites across the country in their many RV’s, caravanned through Mexico and Canada to Alaska. Phyllis found joy in meeting people, time spent with friends, playing games and sharing stories of people's lives and herself. She rarely missed a social event with family or friends. Her ‘trademark’ was her smile and kindness. She would often quote “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

She is survived by daughters; Diane (Dave)Squillace, Karen (Terry)Gillis, Jayne (Joe)Chacon, and Theresa Anderson and son in law Bruse Alderman. Grandchildren; Phillip (Sarah)Squillace, Saralyn (Kyle) Squillace; Robert (Heather) Gillis, Erica (Mike) Pate; Ginna Hammer, Jillana (Marco) Martinez; Acadia (Dustin) Wilson and Cierra (Logan) Anderson and eight great grandchildren. Sisters and brother; Edith Dobson, Anita Schultz, and Richard Sowers.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Neitzert; brothers, Walt and Steven Sowers; daughter, Janet Alderman.

In lieu of gifts or flowers please make donations in Phyllis’s name to Hope West Hospice (HopeWestCo.org) or a charity of your choosing. Arrangements are being made with Callahan-Edfast Mortuary (Callahan-Edfast.com) Grand Junction, CO.