Phyllis Jean Hoffie was born on Aug. 2, 1934 in Bonesteel, South Dakota to Delbert and Clarice Hoffie. She spent the early years of her life in South Dakota and around age 11 her family moved to Eureka, Calif., for work in the steel mill.
The Hoffie family moved back to South Dakota and shortly after Phyllis met Pete Modine. After a short courtship, they were married on Sept. 29, 1949 and welcomed their first son the following year.
During the early years of their marriage the family moved back to Eureka, Calif., and their family grew to seven. As the children grew and left the house, Pete and Phyllis bought a plot of land in Meyer’s Flat with Pete’s brother Leroy.
Every summer you could drive down and find Phyllis and Pete sitting in their chairs on the deck in front of their trailer, tending their garden, watering the lawn, lighting up the fire pit.
Phyllis was a housewife, and in the hospital near her final days when asked what occupation she retired from, she proudly announced this. As the children got older and grandchildren came along, she worked at The Bayview Motel helping to paint and wallpaper the guest rooms.
She also helped her nephew at his gift shop in the beautiful Pink Lady in Old Town.
Phyllis Modine was preceded in death by her siblings Janet Prince, Jack Hoffie, and Judy Mahoney, her daughter Barbara Torgerson and her husband of 68 years Robert “Pete” Modine.
Phyllis is survived by her sons Ronald Modine (Rebecca), Steven Modine and her daughters Lori Edwards and Jeannie Ohm. Also left behind are her nine grandchildren: Jennifer England (Richard), Patricia Modine, Melissa Applegarth (James), Evangela Torgerson, Robert Torgerson (Sidney), Tiffany Hess, Andrew Ohm (Angel), Ryan Ohm, Chloe Edwards and 11 great grandchildren.
Phyllis’ family meant everything to her and visits with her family were cherished. She is also survived by lifelong friends she had made in her beautiful lifetime and many extended family members in California, South Dakota and beyond.
She leaves behind many tears, sadness because we miss her, joy because we knew her. Phyllis put everyone before her in her life. She downplayed her own troubles and attended to others. She was a great wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.
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