Phyllis Franken

P hyllis F ranken, age 86, of North Platte, died at Linden Court on September 8, 2021.

Phyllis was born to Lloyd and Doris Danielson on April 8, 1935, in North Platte and grew up in Sutherland. She graduated from high school in 1953 then attended Kearney State College and earned her teaching certificate. She taught at District 34, near Keystone, for two years.

On July 17, 1954, Phyllis married Ray A. Franken at Sutherland and they made their home in Roscoe. After the couple divorced, Phyllis returned to Sutherland and went to work for Sutherland Care. Six years later she started her career with Great Plains Regional Medical Center and eventually moved to North Platte in 1988. She worked at the hospital for 21 years and 5 months before retiring in August 2001.

Phyllis married Robert Rice in 1977 and they also divorced. She had attended Lutheran churches in Sutherland and North Platte and volunteered at the Lincoln County Historical Museum.

Phyllis loved growing her flowers and enjoyed knitting, embroidery and quilting. She especially loved her cat, Charlie, and spending time with her family and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Doris Danielson; her son, Michael Franken; sister, Patricia Boggs; her ex-husbands, Ray Franken and Robert Rice; and great great-granddaughter, Judith Franken.

Phyllis is survived by her children, Norman (Kathy) Franken, of North Platte, William (Becky) Franken, of Chappell, Terri (Kim) Zajec, of Big Springs, and Brent (Teressa) Franken, of Wood River; her sister, Katheryn Coker, of Waco, TX; as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great great-grandchildren and other family.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at Odean Colonial Chapel. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery at Sutherland. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.  Memorials are suggested to the Lincoln County Historical Museum.