Myrtle Pherigo

Myrtle A. Pherigo, age 89, of Litchfield died on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at her home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at the Litchfield United Methodist Church with Pastor Bill Kerr officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, May 26th at the Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in Lake Ripley Cemetery at a later date. Myrtle Angeline Pherigo was born on November 12, 1919 to Christian and Rachel (Schultz) Thompson in Forest Prairie Township, Meeker County. She grew up in the Watkins area and attended District 84 School. She was confirmed in the United Methodist Church. On June 27, 1936, she was united in marriage to Alfred “Fritz” Pherigo at the Mission Church in Los Angeles, CA. “Myrt” was first employed at the Litchfield Produce for a short time and next worked at the Litchfield Green House for 11 years from 1948 through 1959. She retired in 1976 from F.W. Woolworth Co. in Litchfield after 17 years. She was a leader of the Litchfield Darts 4-H Club from 1966 to 1971. “Myrt” was a member of the United Methodist Church in Litchfield and enjoyed serving turkey dinners with the United Methodist women. Her retirement years were filled with many hours of quilt making. Her quilts are fondly known to family members as “myrties”. She truly enjoyed gardening, canning, crafts, playing euchre, furniture refinishing with her husband and joyous times with family during the Pherigo Phamily Phling’s at her son’s cabin on Lake Minnie Belle. Myrtle is survived by her children, George Pherigo of Harrisburg, NC, Harold (and Sandra) Pherigo of St. Cloud, Diane (and Steve) Bragg of Litchfield, Arlene (and Alexander Jr) Howanski of Sandwich, IL, grandchildren, Cherlyn (and Pete) Gallagher of Mt. Holly, NC, Dorianne (and Robert) Davis of Mt. Pleasant, NC, Aaron Pherigo of Harrisburg, NC, Coretta Pherigo of Edina, MN, Michael (and Heather) Bragg of Colorado Springs, CO, Ann (and Bryan) Edwards of Vinton, IA, David (and Wendy) Sober of Ione, CA, Ryan Dylla of Harrisburg, NC, Alyson (and Andy) Christianson of Apple Valley, MN, 2 step-grandchildren, Nicholas Howanski and Lauren Howanski of Lisle, IL, 17 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandsons and one sister, Shirley (Harold) Swanger of Litchfield, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Alfred “Fritz” of almost 71 years, grandson David Bragg, daughter-in-law Jean Ellig Pherigo, 6 brothers and 6 sisters, Violet Strandlund, Bertha Linderholm, Elvera Johnson, Clara Johnson, Derwerd Thompson, Adella Mae Rogers, Wilfred “Bill” Thompson, Neils Thompson, Charles “Barney” Thompson, Harold Thompson in infancy, 1 baby boy Thompson and 1 baby girl Thompson in infancy.