Phyllis Gertrude Winther

Winther, Phyllis Gertrude (née Fisher)

Phyllis passed on December 14, 2025, a few months after celebrating her 101st birthday. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She will be remembered for her creativity, strength of character, intelligence, devotion to her family and loyalty to her many friends.

Phyllis was born at home in Minneapolis on August 7, 1924. The thrifty habits and frugal lifestyle that she developed from growing up during the Great Depression stayed with Phyllis her whole life. Phyllis attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, working as a waitress at the Great Northern Depot, to pay for her art school tuition and supplies. She had a successful career as a fashion illustrator for Gamble-Skogmo in Minneapolis. Her ads for women's and children's fashions appeared in newspapers across North America, including Canada.

Phyllis and Will began dating after Will returned from fighting with the Army in the Pacific during WWII, and were married at the Gale Mansion in Minneapolis on March 25, 1949. They were married for 69 years. They lived in Golden Valley until Will's retirement from engineering, when they moved to Excelsior. Phyllis was a Signature Member with the Minnesota Watercolor Society. She was a versatile artist who worked with everything from watercolors, to pastels to oils. Phyllis enjoyed duplicate bridge, golf, crossword puzzles, gardening, creating needlepoint designs and making Christmas gingerbread houses with her grandchildren. Phyl and Will made and kept interesting friends while traveling the world, and they loved spending winters in Hawaii.

She is preceded in death by husband Will, son-in-law Russell Fawbush, parents Walter and Gertrude Fisher, brother Richard Fisher, and sister Lorraine Shellum. She is survived by her children Sandra Pennaz (James) of Honolulu, Hawaii, Karla Fawbush of Plymouth, Minnesota, Steven Winther (Mary) of Ortonville, Minnesota; grandchildren Matthew Pennaz (Kirsten), Eric Pennaz (Alice), Benjamin Fawbush (Kerrie), Joseph Fawbush (Stacy), Melanie Sturlaugson (Brock), Stephanie Hawley (Nathan), Michael Winther (Randi), and Hunter Winther (Kassidy); great-grandchildren Paige, Ingrid, Calvin, Lucille, Wesley, Theodore, Mabel, Evelyn, Eleanor, Simon, Max, Lewis, Oliver, Abel, Nora, Kinsley, Decker and Buxton.

Services will be held Spring/Summer 2026.

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Hillside Chapel 612-781-1999