Phyllis Elizabeth Nordstrom

Phyllis Elizabeth Nordstrom, 87, of Albert Lea, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2024, at St. John’s on Fountain Lake. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28 at Bayview/ Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea and for an hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday August 29, 2024, at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Interment will follow the service at Graceland Cemetery in Albert Lea. 

Born in a house built by her father, Phyllis was born on July 14th, 1937, to John and Elida Johnson, both Swedish immigrants. She grew up west of town on a farm with her siblings, Betty, Ellen and John. She attended K-8 at District No. 55 one-room schoolhouse west of their farm. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1955 and lived in Freeborn County her entire life. She was joined in marriage on July 19, 1958, to Rodney Nordstrom and together they raised their five children, Jeffrey, Larry, Linda, Barbara and Lisa in Albert Lea. 

Phyllis was a life-long member of First Lutheran Church where she was confirmed and married. Phyllis was a supervisor at Land O’Lakes and Schweigert Foods and sold Avon for many years. She was a long-time member of the Albert Lea Garden Club and won many purple ribbons at the Freeborn County Fair. She was an avid photographer and loved capturing family gatherings, keeping a photographic family history. Proud of her Swedish heritage, she was passionate about genealogy and with the help of her niece, Marilyn Carrigan, compiled family histories of many family members and friends, which she personally liked to show the results. She had a quick wit and an infectious laugh that will be missed. 

Phyllis is survived by her daughter Linda (Keith) Bartos and grandchildren Michael (Tori) Bartos of Watertown and Rachel Bartos of Montrose; great-grandchildren Charlie and Joseph (Joey) Bartos of Watertown; daughter Barbara Nordstrom of Burnsville; and daughter Lisa Gjersvik and grandchildren Harry and Noah Gjersvik of rural Albert Lea, and Lily Gjersvik of Rochester; her brother John Johnson, Jr., (Sherry) of Austin, and her many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents John and Elida Johnson, husband Rodney, sons Jeffrey Nordstrom and Larry Nordstrom, sisters Betty (Milo) Belshan and Ellen Johnson, and her dear friend and travel companion, Rudi Benger. 

Phyllis had a selfless giving heart and loved animals. She touched the lives of many people. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends. We are comforted by the strength of her faith and trust that she now walks with Christ.