Phyllis (Dunstan) Plantenberg, OSB, 95
St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn.
Feb. 27, 1926 – Oct. 10, 2021
Sister Phyllis (Dunstan) Plantenberg, who died on Oct. 10 at St. Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. Her funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15 at the Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Benson Funeral Home.
Friends may call at St. Scholastica Convent on Thursday, Oct. 14, for a prayer service at 1 p.m., followed by visitation until 4:15 p.m., or for a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. at St. Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Friday, Oct. 15.
Born Feb. 27, 1926, to Bernard and Evelyn (Thompson) Plantenberg in St. Cloud, Plantenberg was the third of six children. She entered St. Benedict’s Monastery on Sept. 3, 1948, was received into the novitiate June 15, 1949, as Sister Dunstan, made first monastic profession on July 11, 1950, and perpetual monastic profession on July 11, 1953. In 1984, she reverted to her baptismal name. She celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2000 and her Diamond Jubilee in 2010.
Plantenberg attended Holy Angels Grade School and Cathedral High School in St. Cloud. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in chemistry and philosophy at the College of St. Benedict (CSB), St. Joseph. At Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she earned a master’s degree in ecology. Many summers were spent in National Science Foundation-funded research and study. She also attended St. Cloud State University; St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minn.; St. John’s University in Collegeville; University of SW Louisiana in Lafayette; University of New Mexico in Albuquerque; Drew University of Madison, New Jersey; Cornell University in Ithaca, New York; University of Washington, Pullman; and Shoals Marine Laboratory. She traveled to New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska and the Bahamas.
A passionate educator, Plantenberg served in high school science at St. Benedict’s High School in St. Joseph, St. Boniface High School in Cold Spring and later at the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University. Most of her classes were taught at St. John’s University. She was chairperson of the biology department (1978–1985) and spent a semester (1985–1986) on sabbatical at University of Hawaii, Honolulu. Plantenberg remained as a member the faculty of CSB until retiring in August of 1996.
Time spent at Genesis Farm in New Jersey gave her a background to develop the Common Ground project at St. Benedict’s Monastery, which provided fresh, chemical-free vegetables and built community. In 1995, Plantenberg became director of Common Ground and was also food production consultant. A woman who was deeply involved in community endeavors of all kinds, she was hostess for the Benedictine Life Experience, a member of the World Justice/New Jubilee Committee, Minnesota Land Trust and Healthy Community Partners. After retiring from CSB in 1996, she was property manager of St. Benedict’s Monastery, as well as continuing her work with Common Ground and ensuring the 26 acres of oak savannah at St. Scholastica Convent were monitored and protected forever. She also reintroduced beekeeping at St. Benedict’s Monastery, and there are many children who will remember her pumpkin gardens.
Survivors include her Benedictine community; a sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Wolney; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by brothers, Bernard, Donald and Paul; and her sister, Patricia Leisenheimer.
Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict Outreach Ministries.
