Carolyn Lea Phillips Okland

Carolyn Lea (Phillips) Okland, 80, formerly of Leland, Iowa, passed away Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, at Fox Trail Assisted Living and Memory Care, Front Royal, Va. with her son and daughter-in-law by her side. A funeral service will be held Friday, Oct. 8, at Schott Funeral Home-Mittelstadt Chapel, Lake Mills, with Pastor Joshua Skogen officiating. Visitation will begin at noon with the service at 1 p.m., followed by a luncheon at the chapel, before continuing to the South Shell Rock Cemetery for the graveside portion of the service. An additional celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held at Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, Front Royal, Va., Sunday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. followed by a meal in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Center Lutheran Church, Leland; Good Shepherd Lutheran, Front Royal, Va.; or Blue Ridge Hospice. 
Carolyn was born June 17, 1941, to Frank and Mildred Phillips, in Gooding, Idaho. She graduated from Gooding High School and moved to Boise to attend secretarial school, which led to the start of her administrative career.
While in Boise, Carolyn met a young airman from Iowa, Ronald Okland, who was stationed at Mountain Home AFB. She and Ron married in July 1963 and later became parents to two boys. Carolyn was a dedicated wife and mother who happily met the challenges of moving multiple times around the globe with her husband’s military career, as he advanced to the rank of major.
When her children were older, Carolyn returned to the workforce and began her own career with the federal government.  Carolyn retired from civil service in 1997, when she and Ron moved to Leland.
Although Carolyn enjoyed various crafts, her greatest joy was going to church. Carolyn was a faithful member of Center Evangelical Lutheran Church, Leland, during her time in Iowa. After moving to Virginia, she attended Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Carolyn is survived by her son, Brian, and his wife, Kim; grandson, John, and his wife, Sarah; granddaughter, Kelsey; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Carolyn was predeceased by her husband, Ron; son, Richard; and siblings, Richard and Angela.