Phyllis Huber-Gehring

Phyllis’s service will be livestreamed below 2:00 PM Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

Phyllis Mae Huber-Gehring of Fargo, ND, joined her heavenly Father on October 3, 2024, at Eventide Fargo, assisted by Ethos Hospice.

Phyllis was born on March 17, 1930, on a homestead outside of Wishek, ND, to Fred and Martha (Ackerman) Sayler. She completed her grade school education in a one-room country school, and high school education at Wishek High School. On August 7, 1949 she was united in marriage to William E. (Bill) Huber. Children Mary Jane, William Frederick, Lois Maye, and Bonita Faye were born to that marriage. Following the death of Bill E. Huber, she reconnected with a high school classmate, Cal Gehring, at a Wishek High School reunion, and married him on November 28, 1998. Cal’s daughter Melissa (Missy) and her husband Bill Knobloch added more blessings to our family.

Phyllis earned a two-year degree in elementary education from Yankton College. She later spent summers and weekends at home completing correspondence courses to finish a four-year degree in Education from Valley City State College. She began her teaching career in a one-room classroom in the country and later taught fourth grade at Wishek Elementary School until her retirement. She was ahead of her time in the innovations she incorporated in her classroom, and many of her students still comment with pride that they had Mrs. Huber as their fourth-grade teacher. As her daughter Bonnie had a severe hearing loss, Phyllis spent many hours as a staunch advocate for her, and was so very proud of her when she graduated from High School. Phyllis and Bill later moved from Wishek, ND to Bismark, ND where she spent many years caring for her husband before he passed away. Her marriage to Cal Gehring took them to Sonora, CA, which was Cal’s home, for part of each year and back to enjoy the summers with family in North Dakota. She was so excited when Cal’s daughter Missy and her husband Bill brought two new grandchildren into her life. Phyllis spent 5 wonderful and loving years with Cal before he passed away. She then made her home in Fargo, ND and spent many years traveling to Mesa, AZ for the winter months, where she enjoyed playing bridge and watching the tennis matches in her community. Her friends in Mesa still ask about her with warmth and smiles.

Phyllis was our real-life beauty queen. She was crowned Miss Wishek in 1948, and later, in college, she was runner-up as Miss Yankton. She was a member of the North Dakota Education Association and was always very active in church activities at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. She participated in the Sr. Choir, Ladies’ Aid, taught Sunday School, Bible School, and was the administrator of the Sunday School for several years. She also often read poems and other inspirational readings during church services. Phyllis enjoyed watching and playing sports, specifically tennis. Her love of tennis stemmed from her time playing on the courts near the swimming pool in Wishek. She also loved singing with her sisters and brothers at home and any family gatherings and reunions. She wrote “For you we are glad”, a unique poem with a rhyme for each of her 16 grandchildren. Phyllis took so much pleasure in seeing her grandchildren and great grandchildren in their school programs and activities. She made sure they all knew “Away in the Manger”, including the actions, along with “Jesus Loves Me” and “You Are My Sunshine.” She dearly loved her family, especially each baby that came along, watching them grow and blossom. She always chose to live life joyously and with a positive attitude.

She will be lovingly missed by her children Mary Boyack (Dick) of Elbow Lake, MN, William F. Huber (Dana) of West Fargo, ND, Lois Mauch (Robert) of West Fargo, ND, and Melissa Knobloch (Bill) of Sonora, CA. Sister Judi Jackson (Tom) of Edgewater, FL, Brothers Rolland Sayler (Joan) of Wishek, ND, and Larry Sayler of Valley City, ND.

Grandchildren: Vicki Krenz (Josh), Mandi Kaldor (Adam), Sandi Rahn (Josh), Michael Boyack (Rachel), Bill R. Huber (Jenna), Ryan Huber (Tara), Wade Huber (Erin), Jill Rowe (Steve), Janell Adams (Mike), Gretchen Gaskins (Trevor), Henry Gaskins, Evan Fahrman (Paige), Emelia Lundberg (Chris), Katrina Weick (Tyrell), Jennifer (Jeremy) Wentz, Ann Goldade, Mattison Knobloch, Cooper Knobloch.

Great Grandchildren: Kendel Krenz, Brennen Krenz, Lidia Krenz, Colten Kaldor, Kyah Kaldor, Micah Kaldor, Carter Rahn, Keaton Rahn, Cora Boyack, Ailsa Boyack, Bill N. Huber (Savannah), Madison Huber, Peyton Huber, Cole Huber, Tenlee Huber, Ben Huber, Bailey Huber, Brynn Huber, Blayke Huber, Logan Rowe, Laine Rowe, Kia (Spencer) Mikesh, Mark Adams, Chloe Fahrman, Tynlee Fahrman, Sophia Lundberg, Jack Lundberg, Daisy Weick, Tanner Goldade, Cyrenica Goldade, Knox Wentz, and Kace Wentz.

Great-Great Grandchildren: Brantley Mikesh, Quinn Mikesh

Along with, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William E. Huber, and husband Calvin Gehring, Parents Fred and Marth Sayler, daughter Bonita Kracke, Sisters Leone Aipperspach (Ruben), Eunice Brandt, Violet Campbell (Stanley), Alice Mckeever (Mick), Ardella Moeckel, and Brother Edward Sayler (Verna).
Celebration of life, love, and laughter service will be on Tuesday, October 8 at 2 pm at the Boulger Funeral Home with Pastor Sarah officiating.

Visitation is one hour prior to the service.

Graveside service will be at St. Luke’s Lutheran Cemetery, Wishek, ND on Friday, October 11th at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Cemetery, Wishek, ND or Ethos Hospice of Fargo, ND.