F. Joan Phillips, 75

F. Joan Phillips passed away Oct. 29, 2008. She was born Frances Joan Bartlett on Aug. 8, 1933, to Jerome (Floyd) and Vivian Bartlett in Challis, Idaho. She grew up in Challis, Mackay, and Gibbonsville, Idaho, and graduated from Salmon High School, Class of 1952.

Joan married Robert Gruber later that year. They traveled in Idaho and Montana on road construction and lived in Cut Bank for several years. They were blessed with four children -- Terri, Cathy, Roger and Jeff. In 1964, the family settled in Libby. They later were divorced.

Joan married Brad Phillips in 1979. They enjoyed many years of skiing, backpacking and traveling. She especially loved hiking in the Cabinet Mountains with her husband and friends. She also enjoyed picking huckleberries, visiting lookout towers, and time with friends.

She worked at Cut Bank Memorial Hospital, General Telephone Company, Libby Public Schools, and St. Regis Paper Company. Volunteer activities included St. John's Lutheran Hospital Auxiliary and St. Joseph's Parish Altar Society.

She was preceded in death by her mother; father; stepfather, Nick Kaiser; brother, Leslie Floyd; and sister, Winifred.

Survivors include her husband, E. Bradley Phillips; children, Terri Gruber of Spokane, Cathy and Jim Anderson of Boise, Idaho, Roger Gruber of Havre, and Jeff and Doreen Gruber of Libby; stepchildren, Greg and Carol Phillips of Kalispell, Byron and Linda Phillips of Libby, and Dale Phillips of Omak, Wash.; nephews, Edward and Lorraine Hayes of Salmon, Idaho, Bart and Brenda Hayes, and Larry and Kate Hayes; niece, Roberta Joan Barrett; and 14 grandchildren.

Mass of the Resurrection will be officiated by Father Josef Perehubka at 11 a.m. Nov. 4, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Schnackenberg and Nelson Funeral Home in Libby.

Memorials may be made to the Betty Ford Center, 39000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270.

Schnackenberg and Nelson Funeral Home of Libby is in charge of arrangements.