Phyllis M. Hinseth

Phyllis Mae Hinseth was born June 5, 1925 in Hector, Minnesota to Elmer and Sylvia Ericson, the youngest of their 3 children. Her family moved in 1927 to Rockford, IL where her father enrolled in Augustana Lutheran Seminary. As a child, she lived in Eveleth, Markville, and Bruno, MN where her father pastored churches. In 1933 her family moved to Minneapolis, MN where she was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls, and in 1943 graduated from Roosevelt High School.

After graduating high school, Phyllis attended IBM business school, worked on business machines (early computers) at Soo Line Railway, attended the MacPhail School of Music, and worked as a dental assistant. During this time, she began a life-long love as a professional soprano soloist performing in numerous special events. She met the love of her life, Herman Hinseth, at Medicine Lake Bible Camp and they were married on July 17, 1948 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls. Herman and Phyllis raised 5 children while living in Bloomington and Burnsville, MN. They were founding members of Emmaus Lutheran Church (Bloomington, MN) in 1951. Phyllis was very active at Emmaus Church, volunteering for many activities, with a passion for the choir music program. Recreation with family and friends included many winters of skiing and summers of boating. Upon retiring, in addition to spending as much time as possible with their grandchildren, Herman and Phyllis explored the home of their ancestors in Norway and Sweden, traveled to Israel, toured Vienna, Austria with the Emmaus Church choir, and enjoyed many winters at a second home in Mesa, Arizona, often volunteering with other Emmaus Church members at an orphanage in Baja, Mexico. They lived in Rockford and Eden Prairie, MN in their later years.

Phyllis loved the Lord with all her heart, mind and soul and was an ardent witness of His love to others. In John 17:4 Jesus said, “I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.” When our life is complete, what a glorious day it will be if we can each say, “I have completed the work You gave me to do.” Phyllis has completed the work on this earth the Lord gave her to do and, by so doing, brought glory to Him!

Phyllis passed away on March 13, 2024. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman, and daughter Gloria; her parents Elmer and Sylvia Ericson; her siblings Frances and Paul Ericson; and her daughter-in-law, Regina Hinseth. She is survived by her children Bradley Hinseth, Channah Grace Hinseth, Virginia (Robert) Mellema and Christopher Hinseth; grandchildren, Ryan (Angela) Mellema, Alicyn Mellema, Phillip Hinseth, Joshua Rohr, Preston (Solveig) Hinseth, Kyle Hinseth, Isabella Hinseth, Claire Mellema, and Katie (Eli) Pierce; and great-grandchildren, Roman and Luella Mellema.