Phyllis Kemen

Phyllis Ann Kemen, age 88, of rural Dawson, passed away at her home on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 surrounded by the love of her family.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 2:30 PM at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson. Rev. Kendall Stelter will officiate, with interment at Dawson Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Friday from 5:00–7:00 PM at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Phyllis Ann (Martinson) Kemen was born on June 14, 1937, in Dawson, Minnesota, to Peter and Alice (Erickson) Martinson. At home welcoming her were three big brothers, Donnie, Vernon, and Clem. Growing up with those boys, Phyllis learned how to be strong, spirited, and able to hold her own—a trait that would stay with her throughout her life. She was baptized at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Baxter and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dawson. She graduated from Dawson High School with the class of 1955. On December 29, 1962, Phyllis was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” Kemen, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Madison. Together they built a life on the family farm west of Dawson, raising their children and creating a home rooted in hard work, loyalty, and love.

Phyllis and Bob complemented each other well, creating a partnership that endured through the years. Their love was steady and faithful, and it was clear to everyone around them how much they meant to one another. Phyllis worked as a cook at the VFW and later in housekeeping at Johnson Memorial Health Services for over 20 years. Yet perhaps her most meaningful work happened in her own kitchen, where she spent countless hours cooking hearty meals for the men coming in from the fields and the cattle barns. No one left Phyllis’ table hungry. The coffee pot was always on, and visitors knew they were always welcome to sit down, share a piping hot cup, and stay awhile to visit.  Phyllis knew her way around a kitchen, and amongst family she was especially famous for her chocolate chip cookies. Family members have tried for years to perfect them, but no one has ever quite been able to accomplish such a feat. Phyllis kept the secret ingredient to herself, and that remains one of the family’s sweetest mysteries. At Christmastime, she lovingly made Norwegian sanbakkels using her mother’s antique cookie tins, a tradition that became a cherished part of the Kemen family Christmas festivities. She also faithfully prepared lutefisk each Christmas Eve—a tradition she upheld with great enthusiasm, even if appreciation for the dish may not have extended beyond her own.

Phyllis was a proud and strong Norwegian woman—stoic, resilient, and independent. She had a spicy streak and a mind of her own. She did things on her own timeline, in her own way, and was never overly concerned with following someone else’s directions about what she “should” do. That fierce independence, paired with her quiet strength, was part of what made her so loved. She found joy in life’s simple and beautiful moments. Standing over the hot lefse iron was a cherished rite of passage, as grandchildren gathered round to learn the Scandinavian craft. Under Grandma’s patient guidance, each step had to be earned—from mixing the dough to rolling it thin—and when you were finally trusted to run the flipper you knew you had truly worked your way up in the art of lefse making. She also loved tending her garden, canning the harvest, and sitting by her patio windows watching the life of the farm unfold before her. She delighted in seeing the grain trucks come in, the planters head to the fields, and baby calves testing fences and curiously wandering where they didn’t belong. Those ordinary scenes were treasures to her. Phyllis greatly enjoyed her time at the Old Wagon Campground on Long Lake, especially gathering on the patio beneath the oak tree during “Happy Time” with neighbors, family, and friends. Those moments of laughter, storytelling, and togetherness filled her heart.

Above all else, Phyllis loved her family. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were one of the great joys of her life, and she faithfully attended sporting events, music concerts, school programs, and all the moments that mattered to them. Her presence in the stands, the audience, or the crowd was a testament to her quiet show of love. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother whose care was often shown through actions more than words, but always felt deeply.

She is survived by her four children: Dale (Desrae) Kemen of Dawson, David (special friend Sheri) Kemen of Madison, Gary (Tobi) Kemen of Dawson, and Ann (Allan) Jenson of Dawson; nine grandchildren: Amanda (Andrew) Thole, Katie Jenson, Brady Kemen, Marissa (Jerred) Schreur, Alyssa (Tyler) Erickson, Brock (Carolyn) Kemen, Sadie Kemen, Landon Kemen, and Hattie Kemen; five great-grandchildren: Quinn, Elliott, and Emmett Thole, and Roman and Blake Erickson; sister-in-law Jane Martinson of Dawson; along with several nieces, nephews, relatives, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob, in 2019; and her brothers: Donald Martinson, Vernon Martinson, and James “Clem” Martinson.

Phyllis will be remembered as a woman of grit, witty humor, and unwavering love. She was strong, capable, and deeply devoted to those she cared for. Her hands fed many, her home welcomed all, and her love shaped generations. Her presence will be greatly missed and always remembered.

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