Phyllis Blessen, 84, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at her home in Columbus.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, May 31, at 10:00 AM, at Trinity Lutheran Church, with Pastor Ollie Fullmer officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home. Visitation will continue Friday, from 9:00 AM until service time at the church. There will be a family prayer service at 9:45 AM on Friday, at the church. Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society. The funeral service will be broadcast live on the Gass Haney Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057043736890

Phyllis JoAnn Blessen was born on May 13, 1940, in St. Edward, Nebraska, to Eddie and Lucille (Thomas) Stickney. Her family lived in Gothenburg, Nebraska until she was eight years old and then moved to Columbus, where Phyllis graduated from Kramer High School in 1958. From ages 13-18, she worked at Y-Knot Café and two of her daughters worked there in later years. On February 6, 1959, Phyllis was united in marriage to Donald Blessen in Yankton, South Dakota.

In the early years of their marriage, Phyllis worked at Dale Electronics and in food service for Columbus Public Schools. She also worked as a seamstress for over 70 years of her life. As a teenager, she made all her own clothes and early into their marriage, she made all of her and her family's clothes.  She did alterations for JC Penneys, Bordy's Clothing, and Schwesers, as well as doing alterations for customers out of her home until very recently.  She also made and sold Barbie clothes, Cabbage Patch Kids, and American Girl clothes. Phyllis had made all four of her daughters' wedding gowns and several of her granddaughters' wedding gowns.

Phyllis and Don were members of the Gold Wing Motorcycle Club and had ridden in all lower 48 states as well as six Canadian provinces. Phyllis also enjoyed bowling. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Phyllis is survived by:
Daughter: Teresa Sterup of Tecumseh, NE
Daughter: Tonya (Matt) Dykstra of Omaha, NE
Son: Todd (Kathy) Blessen of Garrison, NE
Son-in-law: Rob Liskovec of Monroe, NE
Son-in-law: Lynn Belitz of Fullerton, NE
24 grandchildren
50 great grandchildren
Sister: Nancy (Howard) McBride of Omaha, NE
Sister-in-law: Rosemary (Jerry) Kracl of Schuyler, NE
Sister-in-law: Linda (Terry) Went of Columbus, NE
Many nieces & nephews

Phyllis was preceded in death by:
Parents: Eddie & Lucille Stickney
Husband: Donald Blessen
Daughter: Tamara Liskovec
Daughter: Tracy Belitz
Grandson: Hank Dykstra
Brother: Donald Stickney
Brother: Robert Stickney
Sister: Shirley (Bruce) Weil
Sister-in-law: Evelyn (Mark) Schmidt