Phylis Rebekah Williams Rehling, 86, formerly of Maddock, ND died peacefully Thursday, January 19, 2017 at Eventide Fargo. Visitation will be from 10-11:30 AM Monday, January 23, 2017 at the North Viking Lutheran Church in Maddock, ND. A Celebration of her life will follow at 11:30 at the North Viking Lutheran Church with Pastor Allen Campbell officiating. Burial will be held at the North Viking Lutheran Cemetery in the spring.

Memorials are preferred to North Viking Lutheran Church 308 Central Ave Maddock, ND 58348.

Phylis was born March 11, 1930 on a farm near Fish Lake in Butte Valley Township to Paul and Ida Williams. She was the youngest of 12 children. Her father died when she was only 5 years old and she was raised by a mother who taught her to be strong and independent. She attended rural schools in the Harlow area; was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Maddock; and graduated as valedictorian of the class of 1948 from BCATS in Maddock. While in high school she met a handsome young man residing at her sister's boarding house. She was united in marriage to Fred Rehling on October 10, 1948 at North Viking Church in Maddock. They lived in Maddock, in the old puffed wheat factory, for two years where Phylis worked at the Haukness Clothing Store. When they could afford to buy cows and chickens they moved to their farm in Butte Valley Township just south of Harlow. Their daughter Paulette was born while living there. In 1956 they moved back to Maddock where Diana and Joseph were born. In 1961 Phylis and Fred purchased a farm directly north of the Maddock School, a farm now owned and occupied by their son Joe and wife Faith. Phylis was ever the farmer's wife helping stack hay, drive truck, run for parts while also cooking three meals a day, gardening and canning, sewing the family clothes, raising chickens, pasteurizing milk and painting granaries. Phylis began working as a clerk in the Maddock Post Office in 1968 and was appointed Post Master in 1984. At this time they also built a new house and moved into Maddock. She drew her own blue prints that the carpenters used for the construction. She retired from the Post Office in 1991. Fred died in 1995. She lived in the Maddock area all her life until moving to Fargo in 2008.

Phylis was a member of the North Viking Lutheran Church and was active in many church and community activities. She served as president of ALCW, taught Sunday school and served on several boards including the Chamber of Commerce. Phylis was an avid bowler, enjoyed playing bridge, dancing, painting, sewing, traveling in their motor home, and dressing fashionably. She loved to play and watch sports, especially the Maddock Bobcats, Bison football and the RedHawks. Playing a game of "Zippy" at family reunions was another favorite. But her most special time was spent with her 7 granddaughters and more recently her 10 great-grandchildren.

Phylis is survived by her children, Paulette (Bill) Rastedt of Fargo; Diana (Scott Graham) Rehling of St. Cloud, MN and Joseph (Faith) Rehling of Maddock. Grandchildren: Aanna (Marcus) Johannes, Shakopee, MN; Laura (Tim Arndt) Letnes, Fargo; Katherine (Edgar) Mendez, Memphis, TN; Rachel (Luis Moscoso) Graham, Mexico; Ashley (Josh) Starkweather, Fargo; Danielle (Scott) Buckingham, Fargo; Gabrielle Rehling, Devils Lake. Great-Grandchildren: Ingrid, Marta, Ida and Lucia Johannes; Benjamin and Julia Mendez; Zander Buckingham; Helena Arndt; step great-grandchildren Rylee and Taylor Rastedt. Sisters-in-law: Hazel Williams, Bismarck and Verna Williams, Fargo; 19 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years; her parents; 6 brothers, Clarence, Phillip, Wallace, Clifford, Walter(Bud) and infant Clarence; 5 sisters, Beatrice Antonson, Stella Reierson, Lillian Fossum, Ardella Rehling and infant Winnifred;14 nieces and nephews.