Phyllis Jean Arndt

PHYLLIS JEAN (BIDWELL) ARNDT, age 78, entered into eternal peace on Monday, March 31, 2025 at the Owatonna Hospital.

Phyllis was born on August 7, 1946 in Blue Earth and was the daughter of Robert and Hazel (Winter) Bidwell. Phyllis was baptized, confirmed and married in the Methodist Church in Blue Earth. She graduated from Blue Earth High School in 1964. After graduation she worked for Marquette National Banks in Minneapolis as a time-pay secretary. She then returned to Blue Earth area in 1965 and worked at Fairmont Railway Motors as an accountant until her marriage to Dale Arndt in April of 1966. In May of 1969, she and Dale moved to Waseca. She then worked at First National Bank as a teller for eight years and then started a new job at Corchran Inc. as an administrative assistant for seventeen years. In 1994 they purchased the Pizza Palace in the Waterville and Elysian area. They worked beside each other for thirteen years. Then in 1995 she worked for Waseca Optometric Center as an accountant, part-time, until her retirement.

Phyllis enjoyed a quiet, simple life. To her family, her friends, and other people around her she gave much but asked for very little in return. Phyllis had no need for air and graces, what you saw was what you got, and what you got was a big warm smile, genuine and full of love. Phyllis knew what was important to her, and that was her family. She leaves behind a wonderful legacy of a close-knit, caring family. She was always there for us. She loved to sit in her living room with a cup of tea, watching her favorite Hallmark movies and her favorite soap opera, “The Bold and the Beautiful”. Nothing brought her more pleasure than sitting and watching cartoons and movies with her grandchildren and reading books and cuddling with each of them. She enjoyed camping with family and friends, planting flowers and walking in her garden. When alone, she was an avid reader of romantic fiction. She was immensely proud of her six grandchildren and their achievements and so happy that they were all secure in their family life. Her grandchildren loved and looked up to her. We have many happy memories of Phyllis and these we must hold dear in our hearts and cherish them, as she cherished us.

She leaves her loving memories to be cherished by her husband of 58 years, Dale Arndt of Waseca; children, Amy (Tim) Roessler of Waseca, Justin (Sheila) Arndt of New Richland; grandchildren, Aaron, Andy, Avery, Kenneth, Quinten, and Ajay. She is also survived by her brother, Warren (Gloria) Bidwell of New Ulm; as well as many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and her numerous family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation for Phyllis will be from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Monday, April 7, 2025 at the Third Street Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service in Waseca. A funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM at the funeral home.