Obituary for
Wanda Gilson Phillips
Wanda Gilson Phillips, age 79, passed away at St. Luke Hospital on Thursday, April 4, 2013 in Ronan, MT.
Wanda was born in St. Ignatius to Virgil and Lucy Gilson on March 29, 1934.
She lived in Pablo in the same home for almost half of her life. Wanda lived everyday of her life with a smile on her face. She was a very kindhearted lady that was always willing to help anyone. She helped senior citizens get around town by driving a shuttle bus. She loved kids and used her love of cooking and her degree in culinary arts to make nutritious meals for kids at Head Start.
Wanda was a well-known and respected beader. She had won awards locally and throughout the United States. Her bead work will forever be cherished by all.
Even though Wanda was busy helping people most of the time, she did find time for some fun for herself. She loved to play cards and in the past could have been called a bingo-aholic by the people she knew the most. She also found time to read a lot, especially the Mountain Man series by William Johnstone. After finishing a book in one sitting, she would wait impatiently for the next book to be published. Wanda kept Linda busy looking online for books in the series that she may have missed.
Wanda is survived by her children, Linda King, David Irvine, Donna Balibrera, and John Madregal; one grandchild, Angelique Albert; sisters, Eveliena Garcia, Carole Kuntz, and Suzie Coughren; great-grandchildren, Tyson Adamson, Nick Adamson, and Keelan Dupuis. She is also survived by numerous other grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Wanda is preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Lucy Gilson, husband, Joe Phillips, a brother, Charles Gibson, two sisters, Joan Rutz and Sharon Watt; her grandsons, Roy King and John King; and one great-grandchild, Brice Adamson.
Her wake will start Thursday, April 4th at 5:00 pm at the Longhouse in Mission. A Rosary will be held at the Longhouse Friday, April 5th at 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, April 6th at 10:00 am at the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission with burial immediately following at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson. A dinner at Flathead Lake Senior Citizens Center will follow. Grogan Funeral Home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements.
Read Wanda Phillips's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.