Betty Lorraine Phillips

Betty Lorraine Phillips 85, passed away peacefully on Friday January 12, 2018 surrounded by loving family. Betty was born April 8, 1932 to Everett and Bertha Belville in Roundup, MT. Her family later moved to the Pingree, Idaho area where they farmed and raised dairy cows. Betty attended school in the Pingree area and graduated from Snake River High School in 1951. After graduation she attended college in Walla Walla, WA for a short time. In January 1953 Betty met the love of her life Jay Phillips who had just returned home from his military service in Korea. They were married on July 25, 1953 in Pocatello, Idaho. The couple had 7 children but lost 3 of them to early deaths. They resided in several places in the Springfield/Pingree area early in their marriage.  As their children got older and ready to begin school, Jay and Betty moved the family back to American Falls where Jay had always hoped to raise his family. Betty was a stay at home mom until her youngest started school in 1968. She went to work at Lamb Weston where she worked until her retirement in the late 80’s.

Betty was an avid gardener and had a very green thumb. She took great pride in her yard which was home to a variety of colorful flowers of which her Irises were her pride and joy. She had dozens of colors and was always willing to share some with her neighbors and friends. She also loved her geraniums. Jay would always tease anyone that came over that if they broke a plant they were in trouble because Betty would stick it in water and they would have another one. When her children were in elementary school she would place dozens of geraniums in the classrooms for them to enjoy throughout the school year. Betty was also an avid collector of salt and pepper shakers and never missed a chance on her travels to pick up a new set which she proudly displayed in her home.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Jay of 58 years, her brothers Ertle, Frank, and Otto Belville, her sister Lena Landree, and her daughter Beverly and infant sons Jay Lynn and David Wayne Phillips.

Betty is survived by her children LeRoy and Tamie Phillips of American Falls, Roger and Renee Loge Phillips of Whittier, CA, Pam & Robert Mazza of Chubbuck, ID, and Dorothy Glencross of Kalispell, MT,  sisters Jeannie Belville and Ed Duran of Tacoma, WA, Sandra and Tom Brown of Spokane, WA, and Connie and Darryl Bittinger of Meridian, ID.  She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held Wednesday January 17 from 5:30-7 pm and one hour prior to the service at Davis Rose Mortuary Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday January 18 at Davis Rose Mortuary Chapel with a reception following at the Senior Citizens Center in American Falls. A short graveside prayer and burial will be held at 2pm at the Aberdeen cemetery.