Alma Bernadine “Be” Phillip, 88, Hermosa, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, at Fountain Springs Nursing Home in Rapid City.
Be was born April 12, 1920, to Walter Richard and Gladys Opal (Dye) Colling in Alliance, Neb. She later told stories of her childhood experiences: roller skating up and down the hallways after hours at Central School in Alliance, where her grandfather Lewis Dye was the janitor; playing jacks on the sidewalk in front of her home with her friends; and the devotion of her Chesapeake Bay retriever, Lady.
In 1934, she met Robert “Bob” Phillip, who moved with his family from Springview, Neb., to Alliance. They attended school in Alliance and graduated in the class of 1938. Be attended Grand Island Business College and returned to Alliance, working as a secretary for J.D. Emerick’s title company.
World War II began, and Be’s older brother, Floyd, joined the Navy, as did Bob in February of 1942. Floyd and Bob were both stationed in California, and in July of 1942, Be and her sister-in-law took the train to California “to visit Floyd.” On Aug. 2, Be sent a telegram to her parents: “Getting married on Wednesday. Hope its okay with everyone. Bob & Bernadine.” Because of a change in Bob’s leave, they married on Thursday, Aug. 6, in San Francisco.
They made their home in San Francisco until Bob was stationed in the Aleutian Islands in October of 1942. Be returned to Alliance to await the birth of their daughter, Janice, who arrived in July, 1943. Janice was almost a year old before Bob saw her when he returned home on leave in 1944. Bob was home on leave again in 1945 when their son, Don, was born. The war ended and Bob returned to his work in the construction trade in Alliance.
Their family grew with the additions of Mary in 1948, Randy in 1953 and Roberta in 1959. Be worked as a secretary for Brittan Real Estate in Alliance and managed her busy family while Bob often worked out of town on construction projects. When Bob returned home on the weekends, they had a great time with their many friends at card games and camping trips. Be enjoyed getting together with members of her extension club, Just Us Girls (JUGS), spending time as a Cub Scout den mother, and sharing her talents in cake decorating, crocheting, knitting and other crafts.
Bob’s work relocated the family to Scottsbluff, Neb., and later to various cities in the Midwest, but Alliance was always “home base.” The family returned to spend weekends and whatever holidays they could with the extended Colling and Phillip families, especially the Phillip Family Thanksgiving dinners held at the Good Samaritan Hall.
Retirement brought Be and Bob to Hermosa, where they built their home in 1987. They enjoyed their time with friends and family and traveling, often to Bob’s annual World War II ship reunions held in various parts of the country.
Be suffered a massive heart attack in July of 2000, and although the family prepared for the worst, she became the “comeback kid” and pulled through. In spite of her resulting disabilities, and with Bob’s devoted care and assistance, Be was able to remain at home and continue to cherish her time with family and friends.
Be’s first priority was always her family. Her devotion to her children and pride in her grandchildren was boundless. Be was devastated at the loss of two of her grandchildren, Dawn and Deric, in an automobile accident on Jan. 4, 1997.
Be is survived by her husband of 66 years, Robert Phillip, Hermosa; her children, Janice (Archie) Lawrence, Alliance; Don (Verlene) Phillip, Longmont, Colo.; Mary (Dallas) Dietrich, Keystone; Randall Phillip, Costa Rica; and Roberta (Jerry) Upton, Hermosa; grandchildren, Brian (Meghann) Lawrence, Seattle, Wash.; Kyle (Kelli) Lawrence, Elm Creek, Neb.; Walt Phillip and Scott Phillip, Longmont; Terry (Chris) Phillip, Box Elder; Elizabeth Williams, Alex Upton and Alma “Callie” Upton, Hermosa; step-grandchildren Desirae (Rick) Jesse, Fallbrook, Calif.; Tom (Linda) Lawrence, Fountain Hills, Ariz.; and Adrian (Holly) Benham, Lonetree, Colo.; great-grandchildren Carter Lawrence, Elm Creek; Dayn Phillip and Joey Phillip, Box Elder, and Cody Williams, Hermosa; and step-great-grandchildren Geoffrey Phillip, Longmont; Nyx Thompson and Dylon Thompson, Box Elder; and Wyn Benham, Lonetree. Extended surviving family are Harriet Phillip, Moscow, Id.; Jean (Maxine) Phillip, Alliance; and Leo (Zetta) Phillip, Scottsbluff, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Raymond Floyd Colling, and two grandchildren, Dawn Dietrich Krutzky and Deric Dietrich.
Be was a fifty-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Aloyah Chapter #185, of Alliance. An Eastern Star memorial service will be held at the Masonic Temple in Alliance at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Nebraska Boys Ranch in Alliance, Order of the Eastern Star, Aloyah Chapter #185, or to the donor’s choice. Inurnment will be at the Alliance City Cemetery at a later date.
Friends and family may sign the guest book and offer condolences at http://www.osheimschmidt.com/
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Memories from Janice - Most of my memories about Mom center around homemaking. Early on I learned to cook - I remember getting the electric Easy-Bake stove in the fourth grade with all the little boxes of mixes etc and of course she was there to instruct and help; one year it was a toy sewing machine and my first attempts to sew and actually make a few of my own clothes. Mom told how she sat up nights making all the clothes for my bride doll; I still have the doll but only one dress that she made. Mom was never reluctant to try new things and share her talents - whether it was recipes; decorating fancy cakes (the doll cakes for birthdays), knitting or crocheting or making fancy jewelry out of beads. I always thought she had the most beautiful handwriting; she was very artistic in working with her hands. Perhaps that is why I always enjoyed doing her nails for her in her last years when she could no longer do the things she so enjoyed. We would always laugh when people would ask her how she kept her nails looking so nice and she would hold her hands out and say "Well, I don't do anything!" Even though her health problems took away her abilities to create, it was replaced with a sense of humor that made us laugh.
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Memories from Don - I remember when Mom was pregnant with Roberta and she was cooking in the kitchen when Sua, the cat was interested in what was in the refrigerator and was meandering around mom's legs. Mom opened the refrigerator door and since Mom couldn't see what was going on around her feet, she shut the cat's tail in the refrigerator and the cat proceeded to protest her pain on mom's legs, in mom's haste to get the cat's tail out of the refrigerator she opened the door to the left side, instead of the right side (a fancy two hinged refrigerator door)
Mom was always great on what direction we were driving and where we were going, always the road sign navigator. While coming home from Branson, MO. in 2007, after attending Bob's ship reunion, she was sure I was lost and told me I better turn right. As it turned out, she was correct if we were going to South Dakota, but we were headed for Longmont, CO.
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Memories from Bert - I'll have to second Janice's statement about how memories of Mom were centered around homemaking. I remember her teaching me how to sew, knit and crochet. She would get interested in learning a new craft and get me interested in it along with her. She only made one quilt that I know of, which was a crib quilt for my son, but she loved looking at them and we enjoyed going to the quilt shows together. She always encouraged me to try something new.
Bob & Bernadine - 25th Anniversary
Bob and Bernadine - 40th Anniversary
Bob & Berndine - 50th Anniversary
Bernadine and Daisy May (Bob & Bernadine's companion for the last couple of years)
