Phyllis Ione (Martinson) Quam

Phyllis Ione (Martinson) Quam, 89, passed away at the St. Johns Campus on Fountain Lake in Albert Lea, MN on March 21, 2024. A funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Wednesday, March 27 at the Silver Lake Lutheran Church in Silver Lake, Iowa. A visitation will be held the night prior from 5-7pm Tuesday, March 26 at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea, MN, along with an hour before the service at the church. Pastor Randy Baldwin will be officiating.

Phyllis was born on August 12, 1934, to Ingebrit and Gladys Martinson in Lake Mills, Iowa. Shortly after she was born, the family moved to Emmons, MN. There she attended school. She met Wilford “Bill” Quam, and they were married on May 7, 1952, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.

Phyllis loved to garden, play cards, do puzzles, and go camping. She was known for baking delicious brownies, lefse, and homemade donuts. Everyone loved her famous chocolate cake with butterscotch frosting.

Phyllis is survived by her children Gary (Gail) Quam, Diane (Paul) Ladlie, and Pat (Mike) Ehrich; grandchildren Jen (Tom) Walker, Jeremy (Wendy) Quam, Stephanie (Jim) Myers, Andrew (Heidi) Ladlie, Travis (Lisa) Quam, Brandon (Nicole) Quam, Jill (Colin) Ehrich, Brian (Jessica) Ehrich, Kim (Dusty) Ehrich; 14 great-grandchildren; and 1 great great-grandchild. Her brothers Gordon Martinson and Jerry (Barb) Sveen; sister Gloria Kvale; sisters-in-law MaryAnn Martinson, Phyllis Martinson, Mary Overson, Ginny Quam Light, along with many nieces and nephews.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband Wilford “Bill”, father Ingebrit; mother and stepfather Gladys and Obert Sveen; daughter Julie Quam; parents-in-law Orin and Carmen Quam; brothers Merle Martinson and Orin Martinson; brother-in-law Jim Kvale; sister-in-law Hazel Martinson along with other brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws.

The family would like to give a special thanks to St. John’s Lutheran Community and Mayo Hospice for their loving care.