Philip Anthony Welter

Philip Anthony Welter, 84, of St. Joseph MN, passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022. He was born on July 5, 1937, to Agnes and Ambrose Welter in Pelham, MN where he grew up with his sisters, Maureen and Kathleen. He attended St. Henry’s Catholic High School proudly wearing the Perham High School’s “Yellowjacket” letterman’s jacket which he earned as an accomplished four-sport athlete.

Phil studied music at St. John’s University and in 1960 received his Master’s in Music from Notre Dame. He then taught at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, MN. The rest of his career he served as a professor of music at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph where one of his prized activities was leading the Campus Singers. He deeply dedicated himself to not just being a professor, but an inspirational leader to countless students who years later would approach him to say “hello” and “thank you”.

On August 13, 1966, Phil married the love of his life, Katherine A. Welter, at Holy Angels Catholic Church in St. Cloud. They raised their five children in St. Joseph, MN, but enjoyed cross-country camping trips, semesters abroad in England and Ireland, summers in the Bahamas. He was a lover of both eating and cooking cuisines from around the world, classical music, and theater.

Phil created the Minnesota Center Chorale in 1973. He also was a co-founder of the Quite Light Opera Company which brought fun and creative community theater to the St. Cloud area for over 25 years. He worked tirelessly in service to his community as the 1993 founder of District 742’s Local Education Activities Foundation (LEAF), and prior to that as a district school board member. His mark on the arts and on education in the St. Cloud area is immeasurable.

Preceded in death by his wife, Katherine, Phil is survived by his sisters; children Jason, Shana, Tony, Joel, and Colin; and four grandchildren.