Phyllis D. Bachan

Phyllis D. Bachan, 90 year old resident of Little Falls, passed away October 7, 2015, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Little Falls. A memorial gathering will take place at Shelley Funeral Chapel onWednesday, October 14 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with a memorial service at 6:00 pm. A private family inurnment will take place October 15 at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls. Phyllis Dorothy Bachan was born on February 28, 1925 to Claude and Charlotte (Siebe) Salee in Evansville, Indiana. Claude moved his family often and Phyllis was able to experience farm, small town and city living as she grew up in Southern Indiana. She graduated with honors from Yankeetown High School in 1943. After graduation, as many young women did during WWII, Phyllis went to work at an airplane factory to help support the war effort and her family. As a young, single woman, she enjoyed driving her convertible with the top down, riding her motorcycle, dancing at nightclubs, doting on her younger brothers, and being the fun aunt of her nieces and nephews. During a trip to Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, to visit her brother Richard, she met Master Sergeant Joseph Bachan. After dating a few months, Phyllis married Joe on January 30, 1953 in Shawneetown, Illinois and became a career military wife – enduring frequent transfers and family separations. Her five children were born on US Army bases at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. When Joe retired from the military, the family settled in Little Falls. Phyllis was an accomplished bowler, winning many trophies and awards in mixed doubles and women’s bowling leagues. She loved to swim in oceans, lakes, and pools and became a regular morning lap swimmer at St. Francis Health & Rec Center. Phyllis had an interest in family history and was proud of her Huguenot heritage. As a volunteer for the Morrison County Historical Society, she indexed oral histories and newspaper obituaries. Phyllis was a member of the Variety Garden Club and participated in its many community projects. She mentored children as a Cub Scout den mother, Campfire Girl leader and Junior Bowling coach. Phyllis loved the freedom of driving and traveling. Her favorite destinations were Indiana to visit family, road trips near and far with her sisters, nieces and grandchildren, and casino runs with friends. Phyllis also enjoyed caring for her grandchildren and attending their sporting events and school activities, gatherings with her “Breakfast Club” neighborhood friends, watching sports and old movies on TV, feeding birds and birdwatching, reading, crossword puzzles, trivia games, and many types of handicrafts. As Phyllis said recently, “I’ve had a good life.” Phyllis is survived by her children, Dorothy Bachan (Gerald Fiedler) of Little Falls, Joseph (Bonnette) Bachan II of Little Falls, Ronald (Cynthia) Bachan of Little Falls, Jean (Peter) Balaski of Royalton, Jane Bachan-Anderson of Evansville, IN; grandchildren, Angela Cagle (Dean Jensen), Jennifer (Isaak) Anderson, Jesse (Jana) Bachan, Jasmyne (John) Glikas, JaBeaua (Hayley) Bachan, Lacey (Jonathan) Smieja, Canyon Anderson, Dallas Anderson; great-grandchildren, Gabriel Hanson, Dane Cagle, Sydney Bachan, Malaki Bachan, Olivia Anderson, Mayzie Smieja, Saraya Bue; step-great-grandchildren, Morgan Buchholz, Riley Buchholz; brother, Donald (Marsha) Salee of Evansville, IN; honorary daughter, Susan (Kenneth) Askins of Newburgh, IN; many nieces and nephews. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Charlotte (Siebe) Salee; husband, Joseph Bachan (12/07/2002); granddaughter, Janaya Erickson (04/04/1998); siblings, Hartford “Buck” (Edna) Salee, Irene (Walter) Wood, Edna (Hyman) Ricketts, Mary Helen "Tootsie" (Jacob) Nord; Nellie (James) Wallace; and Richard (Nellie) Salee.

Tributes

Phyllis D. Bachan

February 28, 1925 - October 7, 2015