Phyllis Faye (Cantral) Stanger

Our sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Phyllis Faye Stanger, 85, of Idaho Falls, passed away after a short battle with cancer on August 31, 2025, in the company of her loving family.

She entered the world on October 8,1939, in Rexburg, Idaho, the daughter of Neil and Esther Cantral.

She was the third of four children, who spent their childhood in Newdale, Idaho, where their father worked as a hired farmhand, and the children explored their surroundings with an excellent view of the Tetons.

Eventually, Phyllis' parents were able to buy their own farm North of Idaho Falls, where she lived until she left to enter the nursing program at Idaho State College.

In 1958, she went on a blind date with Steve Stanger and romance blossomed. In 1959, they married and had their first child, Reed in 1961.

In 1962, shortly after the birth of their second son, Jim, they moved to El Cajon, California, where Steve worked as a horse trainer on the Ivanhoe Ranch. In 1963, Ed joined the family, followed by little sister, Bettie Lou in 1966.

In 1967, they returned to Idaho Falls, and a short time later were able to buy the 40-acre farm where Phyllis would stay the rest of her days. Here she cared for and raised her children to adulthood, nurtured a huge vegetable garden every summer, planted flowers, mowed grass, cared for numerous animals, and was a constant complement and helper to Steve. She also took on various jobs to help support the family like helping her father in the potato harvest, child care, working as an elementary school aide, and doing office work for a medical practice.

She encountered the joys of welcoming four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren into her love and the grief of losing her husband, Steve, and her oldest son, Reed.

When Steve and Phyllis were newlyweds in Idaho Falls, they were contacted by Jehovah's Witnesses on their doorstep. They studied the Bible with them for many years, both getting baptized as Jehovah's Witnesses in 1972.

Her children fondly remember being read stories by their mother, and the dramatically entertaining way that she read them. She also passed on the things that she and Steve had learned in their Bible studies. Telling her children about God, whose name is Jehovah, and about the coming New World he will bring, where they would be able to play with bears and lions and live forever.

Phyllis was known for many, many years as someone who could make her own delicious bread, canned fruits and vegetables, skin and butcher a chicken in a matter of minutes, and on short notice cook a meal for a large number of people, and always ready to serve up bottomless cups of coffee and homemade cookies with a welcoming smile.

She made many good friends during her time at Idaho State with whom she remained close to up to her death. And she had many enduring friendships with those in her congregation, with those met through Steve's horse-training business, and her neighbors. Many of them describe her as very sweet, kind, big-hearted, loving, and understanding. All agreed with the caption to her photo in her high-school yearbook: "If smiling is contagious, she's an epidemic!"

She is survived by her sisters, Lois Butikofer and Carol Spain, both of Idaho Falls, ID; brother, Gary Cantral, of Idaho Falls, ID; sons, Jim (Grace) Stanger of Racine, WI, and Ed (Lori E) Stanger of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Bettie (Brian) Black of Idaho Falls, ID; grandchildren, Jessica Stanger (Brandon) Woodhouse, Josh (Stefani) Stanger, Steven Black, and Kaden Stanger; step-grandchildren, Ryan Black, Arron Black, Shei (Scott) Brown, and Logan (Payten) Holverson; great-grandchildren, Eli, Lilli, Jameson, and Bonnie; and bonus greats, Bowen, Karsyn, Kaylee, and Kenley; and many more that she loved as her own and who called her Nana.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Neil and Esther Cantral; husband, Steve Stanger; and her son, Reed Stanger.

A very special thank you for the dedicated and loving care shown to Mom by Dr. Bryan Hammar and his nurse Brittany, Mike Beckstead of AgeWell Connections, Solace Hospice, and Cornerstone Caregiving, who allowed us some respite from non-stop caregiving in her last few days so we could come together as family and be by her side.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to https://marycarmelslight.com a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1480 Jefferson Avenue in Idaho Falls. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. prior to the services.

The service may be viewed via Zoom: Meeting #881 6209 7816, Passcode: 101914, or heard by phone: 208-881-9785, PIN# 208272.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.