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Phyllis Jensen Bellows, aged 98, passed away on August 12, 2024, in Omaha, Nebraska. Born March 15, 1926, on the family farm in Washington County, Nebraska, to her parents Jimmy and Madolin Jensen, she lived a full life marked by her inspiring dedication to her work and a deep love for her family.

Phyllis’s early education took place in the rural, one-room Long Creek Schoolhouse — now restored and part of the Fort Calhoun Historical Museum. She graduated as Salutatorian of her class at Blair High School in 1942. She pursued career training at Omaha Business School, which laid the foundation for her distinguished work career. During World War II, Phyllis contributed to the war effort by working at Union Pacific, followed by a position at Mutual of Omaha.

In the 1960s, she joined the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she played a pivotal role in raising funds and establishing the UNMC Library of Medicine, now known as the Leon S. McGoogan Health Sciences Library. Her career at the Medical Center spanned over 37 years, during which she served as Library Administrator/Assistant to the Library Director — under five directors — until 1994 when she stepped back a bit but continued to work part-time until her retirement in 2005 at the age of 79 when her vision loss became too limiting.

Upon the death of her son, the artist Kent Bellows in 2005, Phyllis was instrumental, along with her daughters, in the founding of a non-profit foundation in his name dedicated to educating young artists. This legacy building effort has since merged with Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum and become the Kent Bellows Mentoring Program and has now grown to reach creative young people all across the Omaha-metro area.

Phyllis was an accomplished cook, known for her delightful meals at family gatherings. She also enjoyed sewing, creating costumes and clothes for her children, and was an avid crossword puzzle enthusiast and a fan of “The Bold & Beautiful.”

She is survived by her daughters: Debra Bellows Wesselmann and her spouse Douglas; Robin Bellows Griess and her spouse James. Grandchildren: Philip Griess, Vincent Wesselmann and his spouse Kumiko Wesselmann, Madolin Webster and her spouse Calvin Webster, April Griess and their spouse Elizabeth Lamb, Neil Griess and his spouse Emily Griess, and Hannah Wesselmann; along with seven great-grandchildren.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, commercial artist Vernon Bellows, son Kent Bellows, and brothers James Jensen Jr., Richard Jensen and Raymon Jensen.

A private, family celebration of Phyllis’s life will be held in September. Memorials can be made to The Kent Bellows Mentoring Program at the Joslyn Art Museum.

Bethany Funeral Home in LaVista, NE, is assisting with arrangements.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

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