Phyllis Marie Smith

Phyllis M. Smith, 88, Bismarck, died August 15, 2019, at St. Gabriel's Community. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 20, at Church of Corpus Christi, 1919 N 2^nd St. Bismarck, with the Rev. Dennis Schafer officiating and Msgr. William Connell concelebrating. 

Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery at 1 p.m. 

Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm – 8:00 p.m., Monday, August 19, at St. Gabriel's Community, 4580 Coleman St, Bismarck, where a rosary/vigil service will be held at 7 p.m.  Visitation will continue Tuesday, one hour prior to the service at the church.

Phyllis was born April 17, 1931, in Flasher, North Dakota, to Jerome and Minnie Schafer and was the oldest of their 13 children.  She attended school in Flasher.  She went on to Dickinson State College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education in 1959.  While she was still in school, she taught at a country school near Flasher.  After three years, she received her standard and moved to Fairview, Montana, and taught for two years.  In 1960 she began teaching in Mandan.  She married Edwin Smith on August 20, 1960, and they settled in Bismarck in 1967 with their four children.  They were married 45 years until his passing in 2005.  She took a hiatus from teaching to help rear their children until 1973, when she returned to teaching in Bismarck at Hughes Junior High and continued teaching there until she retired in 1993.

Phyllis enjoyed playing bridge, cooking and baking, and spending time with family and friends.  She loved to hear and tell a good story.  Those who knew her well knew that she was not one to mince words and would always tell you exactly what was on her mind.  She will be remembered for her passionate spirit, her quick wit, her love of North Dakota and her deep care and concern for her family and friends.

Phyllis is survived by her children:  Melinda Smith, Youngstown, OH; Daniel (Kathy) Smith, Golden Valley, MN; Stephanie Smith, Bismarck, ND; Stacey (Paul) Smith, San Francisco, CA; her grandchildren:  Joshua (Laura) Smith, Andrew (Amanda) Smith, and Spencer Smith; and her great-granddaughter, Peregrine Smith.  She is also survived by her siblings:  Lawrence (Sharon) Schafer, Delores Cain, Bernard (Linda) Schafer, Shirley (Ken) Reed, DuWayne (Gladeen) Schafer, and Gordon Schafer; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many other close friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jerome and Minnie Schafer; her husband, Edwin Smith; and her brothers:  Daniel Schafer, Leo Schafer, Matt Schafer, Leonard Schafer, Herman Schafer and Arnold Schafer.

The family wishes to offer special thanks to the entire staff of St. Gabriel's for its loving care of Phyllis over these past three years.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Church of Corpus Christi or St. Gabriel's Community.