Phyllis Marie Parks was born July 8, 1925 to John and Mary Opal Reno Parks in a small house north of Hay Springs, NE. She departed this life on Oct 16, 2021 at the age of 96.
Phyllis grew up in Beaver Valley north of Hay Springs, where she and her parents, grandmother and uncle lived in a small house they built on land homesteaded by her grandmother. She attended elementary school at the South Beaver School where she walked to school across the hills. Phyllis attended Hay Springs High School graduating in 1942.
Phyllis was united in marriage to PFC Wayne Bruns in Gordon, NE on May 23, 1942, and 3 children were born to this union, Loren, Ronald and Marilyn. After marriage they moved to Crawford as Wayne was stationed at Fort Robinson, NE. Later they moved to Fort Robinson where Phyllis found work as a housekeeper for one of the Army doctors.
Phyllis and Wayne later moved to a farm northwest of Rushville where they built a house which was their home 30 years. She told us stories of their survival of the ’49 blizzard with 2 small children and no way to get to town. In 1978 Phyllis and Wayne moved to Heston St. in Rushville. Phyllis treasured “the big yellow house on Heston.” Often her house was filled with her children and grandchildren with room for all. Her husband passed away in 1992, and Phyllis lived alone on Heston St. for the next 27 years. She enjoyed a number of friends and spent many hours visiting on the phone or over a cup of coffee. Phyllis resided on Heston St. until moving to Parkview Assisted Living in 2019. Phyllis was a frequent visitor to Parkview before becoming a resident there and made many friends there.
Phyllis will be remembered for her dry wit which helped her dining table at Parkview earn the nickname The Golden Girls. Everyone who knew her, knew her love of the color purple, which she enjoyed having all around her. Phyllis was a beautiful seamstress, and taught herself to crochet. Over the years, she made many, many afghans, which she really enjoyed giving to family and friends. Phyllis was sharp and independent, meeting challenges head-on. In later years, she often declared “this getting old is not for the young people”, but her 96 years gave her family and friends many memories to treasure.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wayne, her son Ronald, and a great-granddaughter Baby Laurie.
Phyllis is survived by her children, Loren and wife Sheila of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Marilyn Schumacher and husband Jerry of Chadron, NE, and daughter-in-law Judi Bruns (Ronald) of Cortez, CO, grandchildren Laurie McGrath (Rob) of Austin, TX, Ryan Bruns (Dawnn) of Syracuse, UT, Kerrie Bruns Juarez of Brea, CA, Mindi Irvin of Grand Junction, CO, Scott Bruns(Sarah) of Nashua, NH, Kacy Spruell (Jason) of Cortez, CO, 20 great-grandchildren who live on the east and west coasts, and in between as well as one Russia, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
A graveside service is scheduled for 2:00 PM Thursday, Oct 21, 2021 at Fairview Cemetery in Rushville, NE.
Memorials have been established for the Rushville Ambulance Fund and St. Jude’s Hospital. Memorials can be sent in care of Chamberlain Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337