Phyllis "Clem" Tone

Phyllis "Clem" Tone, age 88, of Willmar, Minnesota, formerly of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, died Thursday, September 26, at Compassionate Cottage in Willmar.

A private service and burial will take place at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, Wisconsin.  Memorials are preferred to Bethany Lutheran Church in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Carris Health Hospice in Willmar, Minnesota, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Vesterheim in Decorah, Iowa.  Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar, Minnesota.

Phyllis Ann (Paulson) Tone was born on December 1, 1930, to Arthur and Anna Paulson in Edgerton, Wisconsin.  She got her nickname, "Clem", after a pet lamb that she adored as a child.  She graduated from Stoughton High School in Stoughton, Wisconsin in 1946.  She attended Luther College in 1947 where she mat Elmer "Robert" Tone and they were married in 1950.  After receiving their education degrees, the couple moved to Ireton, Iowa in 1951.

In 1952, they moved to Heron Lake, Minnesota where she taught in a one room schoolhouse in Wilder, Minnesota until 1954.  The couple moved to Rice Lake, Wisconsin in 1958 where they lived for 50 years.

They were a hard working couple and over the years Clem and Robert owned a Dairy Queen in Beloit, Wisconsin, and ran the ski and rental facility at Hardscrabble Ski Hill in Rice Lake in their spare time.  They later renovated and rented homes on Lake Ripley in Sarona, Wisconsin and duplexes in Rice Lake.  Clem was proud of her Norwegian heritage and did beautiful rosemaling.

Following the death of her husband and best friend in 2006, Clem moved to New London, Minnesota to be closer to her family.  In 2010, she moved to Compassionate Cottage in Willmar, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Elmer "Robert" Tone; a sister: Jean; and an infant daughter: Mary Catherine Tone.

She is survived by her son: Terry (and Kristen) Tone of New London, Minnesota; her daughter: Barbara (and James) Laniel of Elko, Minnesota; five grandchildren: Kari (and Chris) Hentges of Chanhassen, Minnesota, Erik (and Jennifer) Tone of Chaska, Minnesota, Jacob Tone (and fiance Erin Tollefson) of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Tia (and Jacy) Bodi of Dexter, Minnesota, and Beau Laniel of Elko, Minnesota; seven great-grandchildren: Lyla and Macy Hentges, Briar, Lofton Tone and Waverly Tone, and Jonnie Rae and Remi Bodi; and other relatives and friends.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Compassionate Cottage and Carris Health Hospice for the great care they provided to Clem.