Phyllis L Thompson

Phyllis L. Thompson, 76, of Sturgeon Lake, formerly of River Falls WI, passed away peacefully with family by her side, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Duluth, MN. She was born in Tacoma, WA on January 9, 1949 to Harold G Cairns and Mary M. (Herrick) Cairns. She was later adopted by William C. Reynolds Sr. after he and her mother married.

Phyllis graduated from Albrook High School in 1967. On June 5, 1967 Phyllis and Joseph D Thompson were united in marriage. Together they raised three daughters, Donna, Candace and Melanie.

Phyllis was a “Jill of many trades”, She could tie rebar and use a chainsaw. She was skilled in home repair and redecorating. Professionally she worked for a variety of different companies including Swiss Colony Cheese Shop and Hide and Beak Taxidermy. She spent the majority of her working life in the insurance industry at State Farm and later Saint Paul Company / Travelers.

Phyllis was also a lifelong learner. She earned an Associates Degree at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College at the same time her youngest daughter Melanie was attending the school. She loved learning new things and took every opportunity available to improve her knowledge and skills.

Among Phyllis’s many hobbies, she was an excellent seamstress. She made wedding dresses for two of her daughters and a prom dress for the third. She also enjoyed furniture refinishing, antiquing and genealogy. She was always deeply devoted to her pets, especially her beloved dog Elsa.

Within the community Phyllis was active in a variety of civic, religious and volunteer organizations. In the ‘70s she was an active member of the Out Crowd, an outdoor recreation and service organization. Over the years she was also a Girl Scout leader, a volunteer secretary at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Saginaw, MN, and a volunteer for the Proctor Speedway.

Family was Phyllis’s priority. She did all she could to help her daughters explore their interests and reach their goals. Even on a limited budget, when some activities seemed out of reach, she would find creative ways to make it possible.

In 1998, Phyllis met the love of her life Thomas Platzer, Sr. The two loved genealogy and traveling. They would search for relatives from Plentywood, Montana, Mandan, North Dakota, Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation and Standing Rock Indian reservation at Cannonball. They even went all the way to Alberta, Canada to find relatives. Over many years, great memories were made at the cabin in the woods that Tom built in Radisson, WI.

Phyllis had a wonderful sense of humor. Even in her final days she was cracking jokes and making people laugh.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her beloved life partner, Thomas Platzer Sr.; grandson, Noah Giersdorf-Thompson; parents Mary and WIlliam Reynolds, and birth father Harold Cairns.

Phyllis is survived by her daughters, Donna (Barry) Giersdorf-Thompson, Candace Thompson (Todd Victrelli), and Melanie (Wade) McDowell; grandchildren Charlsie Thompson, Grace Thompson, Chet and Joninah Giersdorf-Thompson, Owen and Oliver McDowell; great grandchildren Malachi and Khadijah Newell; step-children Tom Platzer Jr. and Christopher Platzer; step-grandchildren Mason, Dawson, and Marcello Platzer; step-great granddaughter Anna Jo Jabs-Platzer; siblings, Stephen Reynolds, William C. Reynolds Jr., “Kitty” Mary Houck, and Schatzie Page; numerous nieces, nephews, family, and friends, especially, her great-niece and pen pal Adelynn.

The family would like to thank Carlton County Animal Rescue for stepping in to care for Phyllis’s beloved pets Elsa and Anna when Phyllis no longer could.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 10 at Noon, Soo Line Event Center 900 Folz Blvd, Moose Lake, MN 55767.

In lieu of flowers a Memorial Contribution may be made to Carlton County Animal Rescue or St. Jude Research Hospital.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555. Please visit www.dfhduluth.com to sign the online guestbook.