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Phyllis J. Davis, 87, of Spencer, formerly of Storm Lake, died Nov. 5, 2025, at St. Luke Lutheran Nursing Home in Spencer.
Memorial Mass will take place Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 5-6:30 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary's School in Storm Lake.
Phyllis Jean Sampers was born May 12, 1938, to Joseph and Christina (Werkmeister) Sampers in Early. She was baptized as an infant at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early. Phyllis attended elementary at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Early. She went on to attend high school at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Storm Lake, graduating in 1956.
In her younger years, Phyllis loved roller skating. This is where she met the love of her life, Merlin Davis. Merlin was persistent in visiting Phyllis at the soda shop where she worked and on June 16, 1956, they were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. They were blessed with eight children: Amy, Doug, Brad, Letha, Diane, Jane, William and Karl.
Faith was the cornerstone of Phyllis’s life. She attended services at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee. Throughout the years, Phyllis served as a lector and Eucharistic minister. She was also a member of the Ladies Guild and involved with CCD.
Phyllis worked at Randall’s and Hy-Vee bakeries. She was a devoted mother and passed down her love of baking to her children. Every summer, she would pack picnics and go on camping trips with her family. She enjoyed tending to her garden and canning. Square dancing with Merlin brought Phyllis great joy. They loved traveling in their truck and fifth wheel trailer, making many memories during two trips to Alaska and visiting all the continental states. She and Merlin spent the winter months in Bullhead City, Ariz. You could find Phyllis crocheting, putting together jigsaw puzzles, volunteering at the SOS store, and playing games with family. Phyllis enjoyed collecting Precious Moments, shopping with her daughters and watching Hallmark movies. She made spending time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren a priority. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Phyllis is survived by her children: Amy (Steven) Andrews of Alva, Fla.; Doug (Lynette) Davis of Overland Park, Kan.; Brad (Denice) Davis of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Letha (Lance) Grigsby of Gretna, Neb.; Diane (Mark) Sahr of Minnetrista, Minn.; Jane (Herb) Besaw of Spencer; William (Kim) Davis of Yokosuka, Japan; Karl (Kelly) Davis of Elkhorn, Neb.; brother Mark (Camille) Sampers of Apple Valley, Minn.; sisters: Joyce (Gary) Olson of Storm Lake; Beverly Jorgensen of Grinnell; Elizabeth Sampers-Jacobs (Joe) of Sioux City; grandchildren: Laurie (Ryan), Joseph (Amber), Brian (Uyen), Courtney (Matt), Scott (Summer) and Marika; Kasey (Kristyne), Caden, Elizabeth, (Gerrit), Ian (Hannah) and Jennifer; Jayson (Laura), Jenna (Brad), Callie (Evan) and Kyle; Stefan, Joseph and Andrew; Alexa (Harlan); Levi (Molly) and Katie; 24 great-grandchildren; siblings-in-law: Pamela Sampers, Su Sampers, Vivian Sliefert, Ruth Davis and Leonard Brummer; extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband Merlin Davis; and his parents, Wayne and Lovicy Davis; siblings: Donald (Joan) Sampers, Marjorie (Richard) Andrews, Robert Sampers, David Sampers and infant brother Francis Sampers; siblings-in-law: John Rogers, Eldon Davis, Margaret Brummer, Phyllis (Everett) Lenhart and Harold Sliefert.
