Phyllis A. Riise

Beloved mother to Randi E. Ciminski (Gary Ciminski, husband) of Whidbey Island, Washington, Philip H. Riise of Arlington, Washington (Debbie Riise, wife). Three grandchildren, Teil Riise and Kirsten Riise McAllister and Kyle Ciminski. Three great grandchildren Karsten and Soren Riise and Crew McAllister, her sister Caryl McArdell of Seattle WA and many numerous nieces and nephews.

Phyllis (Larson) Riise was born in Clyde, North Dakota, a small town in the N.E. corner of the state. Her Norwegian parents Ernest and Louise Larson had pioneered there in 1900, coming from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Phyllis was the second of four children, all girls and she became her father's "boy", learning to hunt prairie chicken and working in his hardware store. Cross country skiing was a big interest too, having barrel staves for her first skis at age six. Family life centered in the Methodist church her parents helped establish. In spite of losing a family home to fire in a blizzard, dust storms, prairie fires and the many other rugged aspects of life on the prairie, her childhood was very happy and good memories which provided interesting stories for the grandchildren.

In 1934, Phyllis was encouraged to come to Seattle to live with her older sister and brother-in-law, as there was more opportunity here in the Northwest. After her sister's untimely death just four months after her arrival in Seattle, she stayed on with relatives and went to Griffin Murphy Business College. 1936 was an important year for her as she met Henry, went to work for the telephone company and the rest of her family joined her to live in Seattle.

Phyllis and Henry were married on April 20, 1940 in Swedish Hospital as the guests waited in Ballard First Lutheran Church. Henry had an emergency appendectomy at noon on the wedding day, but many good friends and willing hands helped them through the momentous time. AP News carried the picture and story of the wedding on the front page of the Seattle Times and PI newspapers.

They moved to Bremerton where Henry was employed in the Navy yard and Phyllis obtained a transfer to the telephone company business office. They joined the First Methodist Church and sang in the choir. In 1942, their first child, Norman was born. Henry left the Navy yard and began work for the machinery firm Star Machinery Company in Seattle so they moved back to Seattle in

1947. They lived in the Ballard area and were affiliated with the Trinity United Methodist Church. Two more children joined the family - a daughter in 1950 and another son in 1953.

Enjoyable years followed in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Little League, PTSA Ski activities in Ballard High School, church work, family camping and ski trips. Phyllis went back to work later as a secretary for the Seattle Schools, retiring with Henry in 1978.

In July 1990, a real highlight was celebrating their "50th Wedding Anniversary" aboard the Virginia V which their family chartered for the occasion. Many relatives and old friends joined them for the cruise on Lake Washington, with a dinner and band aboard.

Phyllis and Henry have enjoyed several trips to Norway to visit relatives and for many years enjoyed going to Arizona in the winter. They especially loved to stay in the cabin in the historic mining town of Silverton on the Mt. Loop highway. For many years Henry enjoyed working mornings at his son's boatyard, Seaview Boatyard in Ballard.

They moved into the Hearthstone on April 20, 1991 on their 51st wedding anniversary. They felt so fortunate to be residents there and persuaded several of their friends to join them in that living experience. Of course, the happy outgoing couple made numerous new friendships.

I would like to close by enclosing one of our mother's favorite poems.

The Butterfly by Donna Miesbach

I've caught the sunlight in my wings and move with ease and grace,

For spirit is my medium and earth my dwelling place, but once I crawled on tiny feet amid the dust of earth until I turned within and found my own new birth.

Tis through the chrysails of prayer my soul now freely sings,

For when at last I did emerge, Christ light was captured in my wings.

Yes, I am ever spirit's child all grace and ease commanding,

Born within a moment of quiet understanding.