Phyllis Gerber

Born November 30, 1929, in Idaho Falls, ID to Julius T. and Christina Petersen, Phyllis Petersen Gerber passed away peacefully at home on June 19, 2024. Her youngest daughter, Stacey Gerber, was with her in her final days. 

Phyllis moved to Twin Falls in 1931 and was a member of the Twin Falls High School graduating class of 1947. After attending The College of Idaho for one year, she moved to Denver, Colorado where she graduated from Parks Business School in 1949 and then worked for Frontier Airlines until 1951. That year she returned to Twin Falls where she worked for Consolidated Freightways and O’Leary Junior High. On April 12, 1953, she married Harald E. Gerber and they had five children. 

A passionate believer in civic and community responsibility and advocacy, Phyllis volunteered in a myriad of ways throughout her long and full life. She was a member of the 20th Century Club, a (no longer active) philanthropic organization with the purpose of advocating for the betterment of the community, and she served on the YWCA Board for several years. A longtime active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, she held many offices, including President and District 5 President. For over 25 years she coordinated the American Legion Auxiliary Girls’ State program, ensuring that hundreds of rising senior high school girls had the opportunity to attend the week-long leadership program in Boise learning about local and state government.  

When the town’s population growth resulted in new elementary schools, Phyllis was on hand to volunteer with the reading programs at Oregon Trail and Sawtooth elementary schools. For many years she also volunteered at the former Easter Seal Center and helped children with their therapy. 

A decades-long active member of First Presbyterian Church, Phyllis served as Deacon several times and was a Circle Leader for many years. Throughout those years, thousands of people enjoyed her baked goods following church services and at other events.  

When her children were young, if she wasn’t cheering for her sons at their Boy Scout pinewood derby events, she was leading a group of “Blue Birds” through a series of creative projects. And for over 20 years, she sewed countless costumes for her daughters’ dance recitals. In 1966 she was hailed as a local heroine on the front page of the Times News for rescuing a four-year old girl from the Perrine Coulee in Harmon Park. As her children grew older, Phyllis’ pride in the community and love of meeting new people resulted in a natural progression of her becoming a Welcome Wagon hostess for many years. She loved greeting newcomers who’d moved to town and, at the same time, getting to see the many new homes being built!  

Phyllis will be remembered by those who knew her as someone who always had homemade cookies on hand, an extra jar of canned pickled beets or bread and butter pickles, a plate of divinity and spiced walnuts, and ready for conversation with a smile and twinkle in her eye. An avid letter-writer, Phyllis may nearly have single-handedly supported the USPS with the abundant purchase of stamps. A friend to all, and the embodiment of a strong, pioneer woman, she most of all enjoyed her family, whom she loved with all her heart. 

Phyllis is survived by four of her five children, Mark Gerber of Brookfield, CT; Lisa Hart (Bill) of Sandy Hook, CT; Sheila Gerber (Barry Theiler) of NYC; Stacey Gerber of Twin Falls; her six grandchildren, Sara Fry of NYC, Adam Fry of Washington, DC and his wife, Morgan Keese (Lisa): Samantha Gerber of Denver and Jessi Trafford of New Milford, CT and her husband Sean (Mark); Sebastian Theiler of NYC (Sheila); William Wallace of NYC (Stacey); her sister-in-law, Ruby Petersen; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Harald; her middle son, Wade; and her brothers Max, Blaine, and Emery Petersen. 

She wanted to thank Auburn Crest for the warm and kindhearted care they provided the last several years, especially to Kaitlin Avila, Mary Woodman, Rosa Bravo, Nikki Cutler, and Reggie Colby; Dr. Ficklin, who was her doctor for many, many years; and also thanks to her daily caregivers, Rose Payne and Yvonne Flores, who took such good care of her. 

Of the many things she wrote on scraps of papers she kept in a folder, she treasured this saying: “We do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us, so be swift to love and make haste to be kind. Go in peace and joy.”  

A memorial service and Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, July 10, at 1:00 PM at Rosenau Funeral Home. We ask that those able to attend wear colorful clothes, as Phyllis said for many years that she wants her memory to be a happy one. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Twin Falls First Presbyterian Church Deacons Fund (http://twinfallsfpc.org/) or the American Legion Auxiliary (https://idahoala.org/).