Today we’d like to introduce you to Phyllis Bitner.
Hi Phyllis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
II grew up as an only child in a home with very little money, raised by parents who had only a grade-school education but possessed something far more valuable: an unwavering work ethic, generosity, and a deep belief in responsibility to others. It was a time before women were considered “liberated,” yet I never felt limited—largely because my parents never suggested that I should be.
My father believed deeply that I could do anything if I was willing to work hard and think things through. His guiding principle—measure twice, cut once—became a lesson not just in carpentry, but in life. When I was six, he began teaching me the accordion himself. He was an accomplished musician, and those lessons were about much more than music; they taught discipline, patience, and confidence.
One of my most formative memories came when I was about ten years old, building a small wooden boat with my dad. We worked carefully through every step, taking our time and doing it right. When it was finished, we christened it with my nickname painted on the bow. That little boat carried us on countless fishing trips to the strip pits left behind by the coal-mining industry. Along the way, my father taught me how to row, how to steady a boat, how to fish—and, most importantly, that there was nothing I couldn’t learn to do.
I was an impatient child and often wanted things to move faster. My father would gently remind me to think everything through to the end. Over the years, I’ve learned just how wise that advice was—especially in the moments when I didn’t follow it and discovered the consequences for myself. It’s a lesson I later carried into parenting, work, and leadership.
My parents also modeled a life of service. Though we had very little materially, they gave freely of their time and skills. My mother was always cooking for families in need. My father shared his carpentry skills with neighbors, the church, and the community. Helping others wasn’t something we talked about—it was simply how we lived. Those examples became the foundation I passed on to my own children.
As an adult, I raised a family, owned and operated businesses, and always found ways to serve my church, my community, and my neighbors. I intentionally brought my children along when I volunteered so they could see that service wasn’t separate from everyday life—it was part of it. Looking back, I realize how quietly and consistently those values were woven into our family story.
I also found myself working in spaces where women were rare. In the 1970s, I worked in Quality Engineering for a company that designed and tested rocket and missile engines, including those used in the Saturn V rocket that carried Apollo 11 to the moon. I earned the trust of a shop floor full of men who came to me with their questions—a moment I didn’t fully appreciate at the time, but later recognized as an important example for my children of confidence, competence, and perseverance.
Around that same period, I opened a mobile food service business—long before food trucks became popular—serving businesses, organizations, and community events. It was another way of blending hard work, creativity, and service, while showing my family what commitment and follow-through look like.
Today, my greatest accomplishment is my family. My husband and I raised a blended family of five children, and today we are blessed with eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They are the center of my world. More than anything, I hope my life has shown them that they are deeply loved, capable of more than they imagine, and responsible for carrying forward the values that were handed down to us.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life has certainly not been a smooth road, but challenges have often clarified my purpose rather than derailed it.
Raising children as a single mother came with its own set of difficulties, particularly at a time when doing so was less accepted and less supported. I had to be resourceful, resilient, and confident in my decisions—not only for myself, but for my children. Even then, I believed it was important that they experience a full and meaningful life through church, community involvement, and volunteering. Those shared experiences helped shape our family bond and reinforced the values I hoped they would carry forward.
A defining moment came in 2003, when a devastating F4 tornado tore through Franklin, Kansas—the town where I was raised and where my roots run deep. Franklin shaped who I am, and watching it nearly disappear was heartbreaking. But it also awakened a deep sense of responsibility.
I felt driven to ensure that the town—and the stories of those who built it—would not be forgotten. Alongside a dedicated group of volunteers, I spent years helping restore not just buildings, but the spirit of the community itself. That work reinforced what I had learned early in life and hoped to pass on to my family: when something matters, you step forward and do the work.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At this stage of my life, my work is entirely volunteer-based. While I’ve served many organizations over the years, my primary focus today is the Miners Hall Museum Foundation in Franklin, Kansas—a mission that reflects both my personal history and my desire to leave something meaningful for future generations.
Miners Hall Museum honors the immigrant coal miners and families who came to Southeast Kansas in search of opportunity and instead endured incredibly harsh conditions. My own father left school after the sixth grade at the age of twelve to work in the coal mines, as many children did at the time. Though these immigrants often lacked formal education, they insisted that their children pursue it—laying the groundwork for the lives we live today.
One of our early milestones was being selected to host a Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition, which brought 5,719 visitors to our small rural museum in just six weeks from 38 states and five foreign countries. It affirmed that rural stories, when told with care, resonate far beyond their place of origin.
Our most ambitious project is now nearing completion after more than a decade of planning: relocating and preserving a donated Page 618 Walking Dragline. Once installed, it will be the largest walking dragline preserved for public display in the United States, creating one of the largest industrial heritage tourism attractions in Kansas.
I’m especially proud of the board of trustees I work with—an all-volunteer group from diverse professional backgrounds, united by a shared passion for preserving history and honoring those who came before us. Together, we’ve built not just an institution, but a community rooted in trust, collaboration, and purpose. It’s work I hope my family sees as an example of commitment beyond oneself.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’ve never really believed in luck. What often looks like luck is usually preparation, persistence, and being willing to show up.
Coincidences happen, but I believe that when you do your best work and place yourself in situations where meaningful things can occur—through service, relationships, and long-term commitment—you create your own opportunities. When I look back over nearly three-quarters of a century, passion has been the constant force in my life.
When I commit to a project, a cause, or a relationship—including my family—I do so for the long haul. That kind of dedication builds momentum, opens doors, and creates lasting impact. More than anything, I hope that lesson is one my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren carry forward: that a life lived with purpose, service, and love is a life well lived.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.minershallmuseum.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minershallmuseum/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@minershallmuseum9786
