Phyllis E Palmer

  Rock Rapids, IA        Phyllis E. Palmer, age 78 of Rock Rapids, IA, formerly of Estherville, IA died Friday, April 22, 2016 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.   A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 29th at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, IA.   Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Atlas of Lyon County www.atlasoflyoncounty.org        Phyllis Egeland Palmer was born February 13, 1938 near Wallingford, Iowa, the daughter of Jens S. and Margaret M. (Bevan) Egeland. She was raised on the farm and attended country school. She graduated in 1956 from Estherville High School. After her education she moved to Minneapolis, MN where she worked as an office assistant. While working in Minneapolis, she met Roy H. Palmer. They married on February 22, 1964 and made their home in Baldwin, NY. They were blessed with two sons, Russell and Scott. In 1976 Phyllis and Roy divorced. In January 1977 Phyllis moved back to Estherville, with her sons. She was employed at Sperry Univac in Jackson, MN until she suffered from an injury forcing her to retire. She enjoyed spending time with a special friend of 30 years, Jerome “Jerry” Kjeldahl. Together they worked on special projects, traveled to Florida every winter and attended many flea markets and garage sales in search of antiques. In November of 2010, Phyllis’ friend Jerry died suddenly. She remained living in Estherville until July of 2014, when she moved to Rock Rapids, IA, to be near her son, Russell. While living in Rock Rapids she worked as a Foster Grandparent and volunteered at Lyon Manor Nursing Home and Atlas of Lyon County.          She is survived by her two sons, Russell (Shelly) Palmer of Rock Rapids, IA and Dr. Scott (Dana) Palmer of DeWitt, IA; her granddaughter, Morgan Palmer of DeWitt, IA; six siblings, Donald Egeland of Ossian, IA, Mary Ellen Inbody of Spirit Lake, IA, Betty (Jerry) Schichtl of Estherville, IA, William (Judy) Egeland of Postville, IA, Carolyn (Rich) Petersen of Sioux Falls, SD and David (Jeanne) Egeland of Estherville, IA; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.   She was preceded in death by her parents, two infant brothers, Samuel and Michael Egeland; three brothers, Richard, James and Jon Egeland; and one sister, Ruth Egeland.