Phyllis, age 67, of Bemidji, Minn., died Friday,
Oct. 8, 2004, at her home. The Mass of Roman Catholic Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, at St. Charles Catholic Church, Cass Lake, Minn., with the Rev. Anselm Thevarkunnel officiating. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, 2004, at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, and one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church. There will be a prayer service 7 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home. Interment will be in St. MaryUs Catholic Cemetery, Red Lake, Minn.
Casket bearers will be Anthony Fairbanks, Patrick Fairbanks, Jon Fairbanks, Daniel Fairbanks, Jude Fairbanks, Shane Fairbanks, Jesse Fairbanks and Daryl Kehler.
Phyllis Katherine Jordan was born and raised on a farm in Bay Lake Township near Brainerd, Minn. Because of her father's health, the family moved to Caldwell, Idaho. They returned to Brainerd during her freshman year in high school. She graduated from Washington High School in 1955 and then went to college at St. Catherine's School of Nursing in St. Paul, Minn. She graduated in 1958 and worked at St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis and then at St. Joseph's Hospital in Brainerd, Minn.
Her father, Philip, mother Catherine and brothers James, Patrick and Robert proceeded her in death. She has two older sisters living: Darlene Watson, of Brainerd, and Luella Mustenon of Jacksonville, Fla. She is survived by her seven children, Anthony, Patrick, Daniel, Jon, Bridget, Jude, Bernadette and her husband of 45 years, Mickey. Her grandchildren number 13. They are Shane, Jessee, Jennifer, Katherine, Kristy, Tara, Nicholas, Alexandria, Jerimiah, Michael Jude (LJ), Kylie Rae, Jalen (AJ), and Alina Rose. Her youngest daughter Bernadette will give birth to make it 14 grandchildren in May, 2005.
Phyllis was married to Michael "Mickey" on Jan. 31, 1959, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd, Minn. Father Florian Fairbanks celebrated the wedding mass and married them. He was the uncle of the groom. They were married 45 years. After the marriage Phyllis worked as a registered nurse in Little Falls, Minn., at St. Gabriel's Hospital while her husband worked as a police officer, after moving from Springfield, Ore., where she worked at the local hospital as a registered nurse. Later they moved to St. Louis Park, Minn., and she worked as a nurse at the Golden Valley Hospital while her husband worked as a police officer and police detective in Edina, Minn. While there she was also the director of the nursing home in St. Louis Park for a period of time. In 1969 her husband then became employed with the U.S. Government, U.S. Department of Interior, BIA, and was then stationed at Red Lake, Minn., Ashland, Wis., Carson City, Nev., Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., Browning, Mont., Pine Ridge, S.D., and Minneapolis, Minn., in the law enforcement and administrative field.
She gave up her nursing career to become a full time mother of her seven children. She always remarked that she loved every place that she and her husband lived because it was home. She made many friends in all of the locations she lived. After retirement Mickey and Phyllis lived at Red Lake, Minn., and finally Bemidji, Minn. During their travels she was always active in Catholic Church functions and services, especially in the Curseuiel Movement. She also served as a Eucharist Minister and Reader at Holy Mass. While she and her husband and children lived on the Blackfeet and Pine Ridge Indian (Lakota) reservations in Montana and South Dakota, she was very active and participated in the traditional and spiritual customs of the local Indian tribes and the Plains Indians.
Phyllis loved and nurtured her seven children to the fullest extent a mother could. When the grandchildren were born, that love multiplied a hundred fold. Her life and the example she set soon became the spiritual love and devotion for herself, family and friends, mingled with her personal faith, hope, love in the Blessed Trinity. During the latter years of her life she became stricken with cancer. These years she suffered much but seldom displayed the pain and agony she endured. Her faith, hope and love in the Blessed Trinity and the Blessed Virgin never once wavered. She never uttered a complaint about the cross she bore. She often remarked, "I accept what God has chosen for me, but I do ask him to ease the pain once in a while." She wrote, "Children and grandchildren, never lose faith in our Heavenly Father. God, Jesus and Mary have gotten me through many tough times. Always believe." She said and wrote these words on Aug. 18, 2004, after her fourth cancer surgery. She concluded by saying, "I look forward to my new heavenly body. When you look in the casket, remember, that isn't me. I'm with God -- new body, no pain and I look forward to when we are all together again. Hugs and all my love Phyl, Mom and Grandma (Nana)."
She is survived by her husband Mickey Fairbanks of Bemidji; sons Anthony (Deanna) Fairbanks, Duluth, Minn., Patrick Fairbanks, New Mexico, Daniel Fairbanks, Bemidji, Jon (Angel) Fairbanks, Coon Rapids, Minn., and Judy (Tudy) Fairbanks, Brooklyn Park, Minn.; daughters Bridget (Anthony) Johnson, South Carolina, and Bernie (Daryl Kehler, Waseca, Minn.; 13 grandchildren.
