Obituary of Phyllis Leonard

Phyllis Leonard (Ramseth) was peacefully reunited with her parents, Ray and Evelyn on December 4, 2018. Born on August 29, 1948, Phyllis grew up in St. Paul MN. She graduated from Central High School and attended the University of Minnesota. She was a cheerleader in high school and a skilled piano player. As a teenager and young adult, Phyllis was the organist for Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She worked for Northwest Airlines where she met her husband Joe Lenoard, who she called “the love of her life.” Eventually, she and Joe moved out of state to California and Florida, but Minnesota was always home to Phyllis where she could be near family and friends. When they finally moved back to Minnesota, they chose to live in Forest Lake so they could be near family. Then several years later, they moved to Edina. Phyllis always treasured the family gatherings where she could spend time with her nephews and their growing families and also the visits from her step-children. One of her happiest times is when her granddaughter, Ariel came into their lives and she loved to share pictures of her. Phyllis never missed an opportunity to get together with her new and old life-long friends, some going as far back as kindergarten at Hancock Elementary School. People were her focus and she will be missed by many, but happily all the memories that have been made will live on in the people who loved her. She will be forever carried in the hearts of her husband, Joe; her brother, Doug Ramseth (Nancy); step-children, Kevin Leonard (Amy) and Maureen Erickson (Brad); granddaughter, Ariel Erickson; nephews, Joe Ramseth (Ann Herlofsky) and daughter, Holli and Paul Ramseth (Jenny) and son, Ellis and daughter, Lila; sister-in-law, Retta Healy (David) and son, Sean and daughter, Erin; brother-in-law, Patrick Leonard  and his son, Ryan and daughter, Ashley and her dear friend, Sandy Elliot. A celebration of her life is being planned for the spring. Memorials are preferred to the Humane Society or Planned Parenthood.