In Celebration of the Life of Phyllis Helen Bilstad Oblander May 1, 1925 ~ July 2, 2022
Phyllis Helen Bilstad Oblander, age 97, died peacefully in her home in Atlanta, Georgia on July 2, 2022
Born May 1, 1925 on a farm in Callender, Iowa, Phyllis was the third of seven children born to Alfred and Helen (Becker) Bilstad. Family was always at the center of Phyllis’s life, beginning with her German and Norwegian relatives.
Phyllis loved singing and grew up singing at church and local events with her sisters. She was very athletic and played in a competitive high school basketball league. Phyllis was also strong willed and determined. She graduated from Callender High School in three years and went on to earn a B.S. in Early Childhood Development at Iowa State University, also in three years. Phyllis worked for a living after graduation, living in Chicago, Illinois, with her sisters and later took a job demonstrating how to bake with an electric oven with Wisconsin Power and Light in Monroe, Wisconsin. It was in Monroe that Phyllis met “the Coke Man”, Joe M. Oblander, from Freeport, Illinois, and they were married on April 22, 1951. They were married sixty one years until Joe’s death in July 2012.
Phyllis was artistic and had a beautiful sense of color and design in her home and in her clothes. She had great attention to detail.
Phyllis was an excellent cook and baker, but she also enjoyed going out for dinner, usually leaving room for dessert. Her individualized gingerbread men and women were Christmas treats for the family.
She loved playing Bridge, Scrabble, Appletters, Dominoes, and did the daily crossword puzzle and Jumble in the newspaper. She loved words and twists on words. She was also a stickler for rules.
Emily Post’s “Book of Etiquette”, Doctor Spock’s “Book of Baby and Childcare” and Webster’s “Unabridged Dictionary” were guideposts throughout Phyllis’s adult life.
She loved the individuality of each child and enjoyed staying in touch with her children, grandchildren, and then great grandchildren. She was a wise counselor and a great listener. Phyllis was quite the observer of human nature.
Phyllis always said she was the luckiest woman alive. Together, Joe and Phyllis had four children, Lisa, Linda, Scott, and Jeff.
Her survivors include her sister Joyce Sorenson, numerous nieces and nephews, and her children, Lisa (Richard), Linda (Bruce), Scott (Cheryl). She was preceded in death by her husband Joe and her son Jeff (Melinda). She had six grandchildren, Nina (Daniel), Joshua (Hannah), Peter (Alana), Sara (Travis), Jessica (Kelly), Steven and ten great grandchildren Leon, Ira, Ezra, Althea, Desmond, Beatrice, Calvin, Cooper, Aviana, and Tinsley.
PRELUDE
GATHERING
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
Welcome in the name of Jesus the Savior, who died and was raised to new life by the grace of God. We are gathered here to worship, to remember before God our sister, Phyllis Helen Bilstad Oblander, to give thanks for her life, to commend her to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death.
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
ACCLAMATION
Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you. We glorify you.
Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you. We praise you.
Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you. We worship you.
To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. Amen.
HYMN
All Creatures of our God and King
1. All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
Chorus
O praise Him O praise Him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia
2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in heaven along
O praise Him alleluia
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a voice
5. Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him alleluia
Praise praise the Father praise the Son
And praise the Spirit Three in One
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our sister, Phyllis. We thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen.
REFLECTION
Linda Fryer, Daughter
SCRIPTURE READINGS Psalm 23 (read responsively)
The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
For Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills — from where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
HOMILY Pastor Jenny McLellan
ANTHEM In the Garden
Eda Mathews, Sheila Brock, Art Mathews, Pastor Mark Larson
APOSTLES' CREED
God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS
Almighty God, in holy baptism you have knit your chosen people together into one communion of saints in the body of Christ. Give to your whole church in heaven and on earth your light and your peace. God of mercy, | hear our prayer.
Grant that all who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to share the new life in Christ. God of mercy, | hear our prayer.
Give courage and faith to all who mourn, and a sure and certain hope in your loving care, that, casting all their sorrow on you, they may have strength for the days ahead. God of mercy, | hear our prayer.
Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that, where this world groans in grief and pain, your Holy Spirit may lead us to bear witness to your light and life. God of mercy, | hear our prayer.
Help us, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting.
God of mercy, | hear our prayer.
God of all grace, we give you thanks because by his death our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed the power of death and by his
resurrection he opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Make us certain that because he lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, will be able to separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. | Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
HYMN Amazing Grace
COMMENDATION
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Phyllis.
Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. | Amen.
DISMISSAL
Let us go forth in peace. | In the name of Christ. Amen.
COMMITAL
Private family inurnment in the Redeemer Columbarium
POSTLUDE
Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #21979.
Officiants, Pastor Mark H. Larson, and Pastor Jenny McLellan Organist, Kira Garvie
Please join the family for refreshments in the Sims Atrium following the service.