Obituary - Rodney Phillips

Rodney Phillips of Florence, Montana, 85, passed away Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, at St. Patrick's Hospital. He was born Sept. 11, 1929, in Goldstone, Montana, the son of the late Robert L. Phillips and Josephine (Saueressig) Phillips.

Rodney was raised in Goldstone until his father's death. He helped on the farm until a fire destroyed the home. The family moved to Havre, Montana, where he attended high school and worked for Eddie's Bakery to help support the family. He was employed there until the end of World War II.

Rodney then worked for the Montana Department of Roads in highway engineering on projects around central and northern Montana. He was employed out of Helena at the time of his marriage to Laura Lee (McLaughlin) Phillips, which also included three children. He retired in 1985 after 34 years with the state Department of Roads.

In 1990, he and his wife retired to a small ranch at Fairfield, Montana. There, he built a large log home and saw to the continued function of the ranch and continued to reside there until 2012 when health issues arose and it was decided to be nearer family.

Rodney was always eager to keep active and productive. He was a man of many skills, demonstrated by his remodeling the first home in Great Falls to include a large garage and finishing rooms, a fiberglass shower stall, picture rock and a fireplace. He made oak furniture and stained glass. He built the family a summer log cabin at Holter Lake.

He was a past master of Euclid Lodge 58 in Great Falls. He was a board member of the church they attended in Fairfield and did some remodeling of the sanctuary there as well as some maintenance work.

Rodney had a love of the outdoors, from prairies to the mountains and enjoyed them horseback riding, hunting and fishing. Pike fishing, summer and winter, was especially dear to him.

Rodney is survived by his wife, Laura Lee of Florence; two daughters, Deborah Russell of Aurora, Colorado, and Linda and Robert Johnson of Florence, Montana; eight grandsons; four granddaughters; and nine great-grandchildren. His son, David, preceded him in death in 2006.

Rodney was also preceded in death by his brothers, Robert of Conrad, Montana, Howard of Kalispell, Montana, and Gene of Emmett, Idaho; two sisters, Eleanor Lambing of Phoenix, Ariz., and Betty Luntz of Lakeside, Montana.

Rodney's desire was to be cremated.

The family chooses to have a private memorial at a later date and requests that memorials be made to the Masonic Home in Helena, to the Montana Heart Association or to the charity of your choice.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at http://www.whitesittfuneralhome.com/ .