Phyllis Elaine Lindberg

Phyllis (Thiel) Lindberg, 1933-2013

On October 17, 2013 Phyllis Lindberg, a resident of Sedona since 1971, died in an untimely accident in West Fork Canyon of Oak Creek. The day was resplendent with fall colors and late-blooming flowers found within the canyons unique ecosystem, a place of very special meaning to her over many years. Phyllis was hiking with four other women hiking friends and admiring the magnificent canyon scenery. Quite unexpectedly a large tree uphill fell toward the group while they were enjoying lunch along the tranquil setting of West Fork Creek. It took the life of Phyllis in an instant, ending a very wonderful and long life of a remarkable woman 80 years young. Her event-filled life ended in one of Planet Earths most beautiful settings.

Phyllis was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and raised on a small farm in the western part of the state. Her early education was in a rural one-room schoolhouse before graduation from high school in Long Prairie, Minnesota. Later on she attended the University of Minnesota where she met and married her geologist husband in 1956. Later she received a degree in Geography from Hunter College in New York City. Over the years the couple lived in Utah, Montana, New York City, Ontario and British Columbia, Canada before moving to Sedona. She was a wonderful wife, mother, naturalist, librarian, tennis player and a passionate volunteer for many organizations in the Sedona community. At Red Rock State Park she led bird walks and moonlight hikes. And over the past four decades she worked at Sedonas first library on Jordan Road in Uptown Sedona and when the new library when it was built in West Sedona she organized the transfer of books to the new facility and volunteered her time. Also, she collected and identified local spring wildflowers that were annually displayed at the Sedona library and U.S. Forest Service visitor center. Her knowledge of local flora and fauna was extraordinary. She had a wide circle of friends who loved and enjoyed the natural beauty of the Sedona Red Rock country. Now at rest, her legacy will long be remembered by family and friends.

Phyllis is survived by Paul Lindberg, her husband of 57 years, daughter Karen (and Ed) Cutler of Anchorage, Alaska, son Paul Lindberg Jr., granddaughter Sophia and grandson Isaac, all from Portland, Oregon.

Please join us for a celebration of the life of Phyllis Lindberg, at Poco Diablo, at 2 p.m. on Sunday November 3rd. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Sedona Public Library or Red Rock State Park are appreciated.