Phyllis I. VanDenover, 86 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2018, at Comforcare Good Samaritan Society in Austin, surrounded by her family.

Phyllis was born April 6, 1931, in Austin to George Phillip and Christena Martha (Klingfus) Lembrick. She graduated from Austin High School with the Class of 1949. On Sept. 29, 1950, Phyllis was united in marriage to Dale Vernon VanDenover at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin. Phyllis and Dale raised their family and resided in Austin their entire married life. In 1974, she began a long career with the Austin Housing and Redevelopment Authority, serving many years as the housing manager at Twin Towers in downtown Austin. She retired in 1998 after 24 years of service. Phyllis was a longtime active member of the Fellowship United Methodist Church in Austin. She enjoyed ‘casino trips’ with her friends, chaperoning bus trips all over the country for her tenants at Twin Towers and the annual summer trip to Leach Lake with her family. Phyllis and Dale were very passionate about their involvement in Prairie Visions, which was organized for the purpose of promoting and improving the Mower County communities of Adams, Minnesota, LeRoy, Minnesota, Rose Creek, Minnesota, and Taopi, Minnesota. Their volunteer efforts were an important part in the establishment of the Shooting Star Scenic Byway and the Shooting Star Recreational Trail. Phyllis and Dale were also faithful volunteers at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center and were awarded the Sigurd F. Olson Conservation Award, recognizing their leadership and dedication to volunteerism.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Dale of Austin; children, Michael (Rose) VanDenover of Blaine, Minnesota, Jane (Paul) Wagner of Austin, Robert (Terri) VanDenover of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Chris VanDenover of Cresco, Iowa; grandchildren, Tiffany (Kayle), Sarah, Blayne (Alex), Paul II, David (Tracy), Isaiah (Heather), Justine (Aaron) and Laura (Nayo); six great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Jean Lembrick; brother-in-law, Pat Betschart; nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Tena Lembrick; brothers, Donny Lembrick and Dick (Melba) Lembrick; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Shirley (Earl) VanDenover; and sister-in-law, Carol Betschart

A celebration of life service is being planned and will be announced at a later date. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials in Phyllis’s memory may be directed to Comforcare Good Samaritan Society in Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.