Kristine Dorinda Phelan Antoine

Kris was born on September 23, 1945, to Marvin and Ethel (Grabow) Lans of Willow River. Kris was one of six children raised by her father, oldest sister Jo and her Uncles Weldon, Art, and Rosie after her mother passed away at the age of two. She grew up on a farm there until she was a teenager when she moved to the twin cities to be a nanny and continue her high school education. Kris worked at a tie and a bomb factory before beginning her daycare provider career. She started doing daycare after her two daughters Kim and Paula were born. The neighbor noticed she was home all day and asked if she would watch her kids too. That began her 56-year daycare journey and the start of Kris's Kids. In 1973 when Kris's best friend Corlys(Cory) took her out for drinks, she met Bernie. They had a son, Scott in 1974, moved to Crystal in 1977 and married in 1979. Kris lived for 46 years in that same house until her passing. Kris and Bernie were married almost 25 years until he passed in 2004. During their time together they raised rabbits and were part of the Surburban Twins Rabbit Club. They showed rabbits all over the United States for many years. Kris was still active in the "rabbit world" as she put it, until she passed away. The scholarship program was something she worked on every year. Kris and Bernie were part of the USSSA softball world and traveled to state and national tournaments all over the country. There was not a weekend that went by when they were not at a softball tournament. Kris loved cooking for softball BBQ's. She met her current husband, Tony Antoine, in 2008, and they married in 2012, then had their vows renewed several years later in a chapel in South Dakota. Tony and Kris belonged to the Classic Corvettes of Minnesota Club. She loved every minute of corvette cruises, banquets, and meetings with that group. Kris loved to dress up for their events and truly enjoyed meeting new friends. Kris continued to do daycare in her Crystal home until the day she passed away. She cared for over 100 plus children in her lifetime. Kris was a second mom or grandma to every one of those children and sometimes their parents too. Some of her daycare kids were children of kids she used to watch years before. It was generational. Her wisdom and anecdotes that she taught to her daycare parents were unmatched. She had a cure for everything, had a saying for everything and helped them become better parents. She gave wholeheartedly and never asked for anything in return. Kris loved the flowers, plants, and veggies that she grew with her granddaughters Allie and Erin. She loved deer hunting with her son Scott every fall. She loved cooking and baking and would feed anyone that walked into her home. Kris loved to travel. She went on many cruises including Alaska, Hawaii and the Carribean. She loved the beach. She also loved to go out to eat, have a good fish fry with a Miller Lite beer (and a glass) and play pull tabs. Kris told it like it was and made no excuses for it. She was funny, lovable, spunky, and lived life to the fullest Kris was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt who cared deeply for her family. She was an amazing friend to so many people. She still wrote letters and mailed them to family and friends. Friends were still receiving letters from Kris as late as last week. Kris was a record keeper extraordinaire. She had a calendar with everyone she ever met birthdays, anniversaries, etc. You could always expect a phone call from Kris when it was your special day. Nothing made Kris happier than her grandkids, Allie, Erin, Cody, and Max. The time she spent with them attending their sporting events, school concerts, or planning their birthdays with way too much food and presents was normal for Kris. She would do anything for her grandkids (or kids) and would always be there for them. Kris passed away at home on Monday, October 9th, 2023. She is preceded in death by her parents, her four siblings and her husband Bernie. She is survived by her husband Tony, her sister Jo, children Kim, Paula, and Scott, her grandchildren Allie, Erin, Cody, and Max, many, many friends and all the daycare kids that she helped raise over the years. She will be dearly missed by all.

Tributes

Kristine Dorinda Phelan Antoine

September 23, 1945 - October 9, 2023

Tributes

Kristine Dorinda Phelan Antoine

September 23, 1945 - October 9, 2023

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