Philip Degenstein

Sept. 6, 1937- May 22, 2025

Rugby

Philip Leroy Degenstein, Rugby, passed away in the care of his family May 22, 2025. Phil was born Sept. 6, 1937, in Rugby to Myrtle and Andrew Degenstein. He graduated from Rugby High School in 1955 and on March 24, 1959, married Vonnie Schneider at First Lutheran Church, Rugby.

Phil and Vonnie became parents to son Tim on July 18, 1960. Phil was deployed by the North Dakota Army National Guard to Manhattan, Kan., for a year and then the family returned to Rugby, where daughter Patricia was born Sept. 1, 1963.

Phil worked for Rugby Sheet Metal and Plumbing and in 1979 opened Phil’s Plumbing and Heating with Tim. Father and son operated the plumbing business until 1983, when Phil started a 27-year career with the National Guard in Rugby. During his last five years with the Guard, he taught engineering at the Camp Grafton Military Academy, Devils Lake.

Phil enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping. He taught hunter safety for 30 years and was a charter member of the Rugby Shooting Club. A Yankees fan, in 2002 enjoyed seeing his favorite team play at Coors Field in Denver. Always supportive of his community, he helped Vonnie run the Pierce County Food Pantry for 30 years.

Phil is survived by his wife, Vonnie, Rugby; son, Tim, Rugby; daughter Patricia (Leonard) Selensky, Thief River Falls, Minn.; five grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; sister, Marie Solberg, Lakota, N.D.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Ruth Kirchofner, Ethel Gay, Margaret McLeod, and Delores Jelsing; daughter-in-law Meriam Degenstein; and two infant grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 30, in First Lutheran Church, followed by a reception at the Rugby Eagles Club.

Interment will take place at a later date in Persilla Watts Cemetery, Rugby. Pastor Sharon Baker, officiating.

Organist: Pam Anderson; Vocalist: Craig Wollenberg; Eulogist: Terry Jelsing

Arrangements with the Anderson Funeral Home of Rugby.

Online condolences: www.funeralsbyanderson.com.

Published by The Minot Daily News, May 28, 2025.