BROOKINGS Phyllis (Foley) Lauer has lived a life full of accomplishments that needs no couldve-done, shouldve-done look-back. At 99 years old shes got a bucket-list with a few things shed like to check off before she celebrates a centenarian birthday in April 2026.
Now a resident at Peaceful Pines Senior Living in Brookings, Lauer was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Following high school graduation there, she attended St. Cloud State University when it was still a teachers college. She graduated with a bachelors degree in physical education and mathematics and remained in Minnesota, teaching school for several years.
Following that she moved to Aberdeen, where she taught four more years. While she was there she met and, in 1955, married Leo Lauer. A native of Howard, he had served in the military during World War II and then in the Korean War. He was working as a bookkeeper for the Chevrolet dealership in Howard. They settled in and spent their lives there.
I was a stay-at-home mom who was called upon to do everything, Lauer said. I worked in the (public) library; I was an EMT (emergency medical technician) and managed the ambulance service for a number of years; I was coordinator of religious education.
The couple had two sons and two daughters; their four children would give them 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Leo died in 2006.
Glasswork, good friends, the list
Lauer moved to Brookings in 2012 and continued to pursue her “vocation.”
For about 40 years I did stained glasswork, she explained. I varied from little window patches to large windows. I didnt really have a vocation because I did all these other things. I worked in stained glass until a little more than a year ago.
It was a wonderful, wonderful hobby. I liked it because it took a lot of precision and I used my math background. I liked that, she explained. When you finished the project you had something beautiful. Anything with glass is beautiful. That was the major thing that I did in my life.
A son-in-law gave her a workspace at Preferred Woodwork here in Brookings. So I set up my shop there, she explained. In addition to pursuing her avocation, she found social activities and friendships that became a rewarding part of her life.
When I moved to Brookings the best thing that happened to me was meeting a group of women from (St. Thomas More Catholic) Church, Lauer explained. Father Terry (Anderson, then the pastor) called us the Ladies of the Round Table. Its been a very close friendship with all of them. On Monday mornings they come here and we shoot pool.
In addition to a sedate and relaxed lifestyle that often comes with retirement years, Lauer is finding adventure as she continues to check off items on her bucket list, with a self-set deadline prior to her 100th birthday in April.
One adventure she recently ticked off was riding very fast in a big semi-truck.
Smiling, she noted, Yes, I did. It was fun. Explaining how it came to be, she said, You know, I was riding with my daughter one day and I said, Id like to ride in one of those, going down the highway. So we just kind of talked about it for awhile. Then the boyfriend of one of the activities staff members made it happen.
He brought the truck, Lauer noted. It didnt have a trailer but it was a truck. There are several pictures of her adventure that can be found on the Peaceful Pines Facebook page.
Adding to her list, she said, with a smile, Ive done a lot of things. Ive been in a hot air balloon, I did a glider. It was just a short ride, out in the Black Hills. Id rather it have been over the rain forest in Brazil.
Lauer continues to keep a list, checking off what adventures shes done, including: riding a zip-line in 2017 and paddling a kayak, which she called really good. Next on her list is a ride in a motorcycle sidecar, something shes working with her daughter to set up. And shed like to get a group of Peaceful Pines residents together and attend a volleyball game the real deal versus her watching games on television.
Finally, looking back and then ahead, she noted, Ten years ago I wrote my autobiography. And so on my bucket list right now is to write up the last 10 years. I think that will be my penance thing for this Lent coming up. When I wrote my autobiography (10 years ago) I started it on Ash Wednesday and I thought I could do it during Lent. That would be my penance.
Laughing, she noted, exaggerating a bit, Lent lasted until July that year.
Contact John Kubal at 605-692-6271.
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