Phyllis Sterry

Phyllis Sterry of Fosston MN, age 72, passed away at Hilcrest Senior Living in Red Lake Falls MN on Saturday, October 8^th, 2022.

Phyllis was born in Forest City Iowa. Her family moved to Fosston MN when she was 9. Her father Grant Nordskog was a farmer, and her mother Amanda Nordskog was a homemaker. Phyllis lived, worked, and raised her two children in Fosston. She owned a hair salon the Hairitage II for over 30 years and liked to refer to herself as a “hair bender”. 

Phyllis was an actor in the Fosston community theater. She stared in many productions like Bye, Bye Birdie, Arsenic and Old Lace, A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, Barefoot in the Park, amongst others. Phyllis created her own character of a “bag lady” in which she was hired to “crash” birthday parties and other events at Rotary clubs, banks, and offices.

She was also a poet with published works, wrote a children’s story and a horror story. She was a very creative, artistic person with a great sense of humor. 

Phyllis loved to cook. She made most dishes from scratch. She was also known for hosting tea parties. When her grandchildren were younger, they often referred to her as “grandma tea party”. Phyllis touched many lives and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her daughter Heather Sabian in Massachusetts; her son Adam Sterry and his daughters Jazmyn and Olivia in Minnesota; her sister Carol Stahl in Texas; her bothers Stanley and Marvin Nordskog in Wisconsin; as well as many nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents Amanda and Grant Nordskog, her sister Lavone Fiedler, and her brothers Donald and Darrel Nordskog.

Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks, North Dakota handled the arrangements for cremation.

A celebration of life ceremony will be arranged in the spring of 2023 by her children to honor Phyllis’ memory.