Phyllis Miller Petersen, 86, of Austin, Minnesota, left her earthly home to join her loved ones in heaven on July 11, 2017, surrounded by her family.

Phyllis Jeanette Squier was born to Hazel Frank and Lawrence Squier on June 19, 1931. She was later adopted by Edward Arp. She attended schools in Osage, Iowa, and later Austin High School. Phyllis married Leonard E. Miller; they had nine children. They later divorced.  She raised her nine children by herself while waitressing at night and other jobs. On June 27, 1992, she married Erwin “Pete” Petersen, gaining three stepchildren. They were married until his death in October 2013. Phyllis was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin and faithfully attended until her health no longer permitted it. She also belonged to the Women of the Moose, having served in every office, including Senior Regent. She ran a ceramics shop for many years in her daughters shop and later from her home and loved collecting ceramic and porcelain dolls. Phyllis enjoyed bird watching, especially hummingbirds, and knew many by name as they came to her feeders. She was lucky to have travelled to Hawaii several times, and to California to see her children and grandchildren. Phyllis spent about 10 years living in California and briefly in Iowa and Kansas before returning to Austin. She enjoyed being around her family, especially her grandchildren, of which she had many. She spoiled them all and claimed they were all her favorite. Her family will miss her dearly.

Left to mourn Phyllis are her children, Leanne and Larry Rand of Rockford, Illinois, Jeannette and Kevin Slavik of New Prague, Minnesota, Judy and Steven Tabor, Sherri McCarty, Patti Lang, and Roger Miller, all of Austin, Lenny and Becky Miller of Mona, Iowa, Phillip and Joanne Miller, Carmel and Dave Taylor, Mike and Merry Petersen, and Judy Hebl, all of Austin; 28 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; many step-grandchildren — well over 100 in all; her brother, Larry and Dolores Roberts Squier of Floyd, Iowa; and her sisters-in-law, Jeanne Arp of Mason City, Iowa, and Shirley Squier of LaSalle, Colorado.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; son, Eddie Lee; grandchildren, Bobee Raina, Cully Drew, Tonya Rae, and Rann Tyrone; son-in-law, Mike McCarty; and daughter-in-law, Julie Miller. She missed them all so much. She was also preceded by her sisters and brothers-in- law, Lillian (Dean) Adams and Patricia (Dean) Rowson; and her brothers and sisters-in-law Dean (Eleanor) Squier, Keith Squier, Virgene Squier, and William Squier.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 16, 2017, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin with Pastor Chad Johnson officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at church on Sunday. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements.  Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.