Phyllis Ann Gardner
Phyllis Ann Gardner was born March 15, 1937 in rural Dundy County, Nebraska to C. Merle Ketler and Eva (Cooley) Ketler. Phyllis went to school in Benkelman, and then later in Greeley, Colorado after her parents moved to Colorado. She graduated from Greeley High School in 1955, and then attended Colorado State University.
In August 1977 she married Kenneth A. Gardner in Max, Nebraska, and spent the remainder of her life working alongside her husband in the family farming and ranching operation. Phyllis also operated the Unicorn Boutique women’s clothing store.
Phyllis Ann Gardner was born March 15, 1937 in rural Dundy County, Nebraska to C. Merle Ketler and Eva (Cooley) Ketler. Phyllis went to school in Benkelman, and then later in Greeley, Colorado after her parents moved to Colorado. She graduated from Greeley High School in 1955, and then attended Colorado State University.
In August 1977 she married Kenneth A. Gardner in Max, Nebraska, and spent the remainder of her life working alongside her husband in the family farming and ranching operation. Phyllis also operated the Unicorn Boutique women’s clothing store.
Phyllis was very civic minded, and over the course of the years she held many positions within the Republican Party at the local, state and national levels. In 1975 she became the first woman Chairman of the National Young Republican Federation. Phyllis also held leadership positions in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association; as well as serving on the Board of Trustees of the Dundy County Hospital and the Hospital Foundation, and as co-president of the Max Community Club. She was also a long time member of the Max United Methodist Church.
Phyllis passed away on January 28, 2011 in Benkelman, Nebraska.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents. She was, at the time of her death, survived by her husband of 33 years, Kenneth Gardner (of Max); sons John McGrath (of Virginia) and Jeffrey McGrath (of California); step-children Allen Gardner (of Cairo, NE) and Rita Saltzman (of Emerson, NE); 12 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; a brother, William Ketler (of Phoenix, AZ) and a sister, Patricia Cline (of Benkelman, NE).
Phyllis passed away on January 28, 2011 in Benkelman, Nebraska.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents. She was, at the time of her death, survived by her husband of 33 years, Kenneth Gardner (of Max); sons John McGrath (of Virginia) and Jeffrey McGrath (of California); step-children Allen Gardner (of Cairo, NE) and Rita Saltzman (of Emerson, NE); 12 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; a brother, William Ketler (of Phoenix, AZ) and a sister, Patricia Cline (of Benkelman, NE).