Mary Phyllis Highum, 85, of Eyota was called to her heavenly home Sunday, October 7, 2018 at Samaritan Bethany Home in Rochester.
Mary Phyllis Mielke was born April 23, 1933 in St. Paul, MN to John A. and Agatha (Belisle) Mielke.
She graduated in 1951 from Harding High School in St. Paul, MN.
Phyllis married Norman Highum, her high school sweetheart on September 27, 1952. Their first home together was in St. Paul and later they settled into a home in Eyota in 1969.
She stayed home to raise her children. Following them going off to school Phyllis worked at Woolworth's in Rochester from 1971 to 1985. Following retirement, she coordinated the Sr. Dining in Eyota from 1997 until 2014.
Church was very important to both Phyllis and Norman. Phyllis taught religion at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Eyota for several years and was active in the Women's Circle. Phyllis enjoyed crocheting, cooking, baking and she played a mean game of bingo.
Traveling was a favorite pastime of the Highum family. They traveled throughout Minnesota and across the United States. Especially enjoying trips that involved spending time with brothers, sisters, children and grand children. Phyllis was a long time member of the Women of the Moose. She held all the local Rochester Chapter 1645 positions and was also State of Minnesota Moose Star Recorder and Deputy Grand Regent in 1983-84.
Phyllis and Norman were filled with joy as they were surrounded by family, celebrating their sixty-five years together in June of 2017.
Phyllis is survived by six children: Jim (Mary Jane), Jeff, Tom (Dorothy), Mark (Renae), Jeanne (Scott) Ferguson and Juli.12 grandchildren: Jeremy (Colleen), Jesse (Amy), Amanda, Jennifer (Dameon), Bryce, Amie (Adam), Erik,Ashley, Emily, Jennifer (Patrick), Bethany (Jon), Matthew and 19 great-grandchildren: Lylee, Ava, Ezra, Shaemus, Chassity, Drake, Ryan, Brynn, Mikaela, Spencer, Jaxson, Ethan, Roman, Emersyn, Declan, Jake, Logan, Aspyn,and Addison.
She was preceded in death by her husband Norman in March, and by one brother and two sisters.
A Funeral Mass for Phyllis will be held 11 a.m. Saturday October 13 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Eyota with Reverend Tim Biren officiating. A private interment service will be held at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester. Friends may call from 9:30 - 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Please share a memory of Phyllis and view her video tribute when it becomes available at
www.hofffuneral.com. Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service of St. Charles is assisting the family with arrangements.
The family would like to thank the staff at Samaritan Bethany Home in Rochester for their attentive car