Phil died May 28, 2998 at the age of 50. Cause of Death - Complications from broken neck. He is survived by his wife, Char, stepson, Jeff Weyh, Daughter, Becky and sons, John and Adam.
PHIL AND I HAD BEEN FRIENDS SINCE 2ND GRADE. WE HAD A GREAT FRIENDSHIP. I REMEMBER OUR TRIPS FOR CHURCH AND EVEN THEN HE WAS ALWAYS ASKING ME ABOUT CHAR. HE WAS IN LOVE WITH HER EVEN WAY BACK THEN. ONE OF MY FOUND MEMORIES WAS WHEN HE AND I WON THE DACNE CONTEST AT THE DANCE CLUB ON BAKER ST (CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS CALLED) HE TOOK THE RIBON HOME AND NEVER WOULD LET ME HAVE IT.I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN HE AND CHAR FINALLY GOT TOGATHER. I WILL MISS HIS HUMOR.
Phil was happy to move on from high school where he didn't like studying that much and his advisor told him he had no future...to become a truck driver. Hummmm
At Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, Phil blossomed and received his Bachelors degree in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Religion. He started grad school at the Univ. of Montana which was cut short by the Army and basic training. Phil was a Medic and served in the National Guard...active duty included fighting forest fires and manning the mental institution in Warm Springs when state employees were on strike.
His medic experience led him to volunteer for the Whitefish Fire Dept., using his EMT skills. He became an active volunteer and respected businessman in Whitefish and Kalispell. Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Jaycees, Winter Carnival, church leader, were just some of the activities that kept him busy.
During college summers, Phil worked for a logging company, the Aluminum plant, the Daily Inter Lake and of course selling used cars for his father. On a bet with his dad, he got his real estate license, going on to own his first real estate office, Whitefish Lake Realty. He brought professionalism to the Flathead real estate industry by helping organize the Flathead's first REALTOR organization. Phil went on to commercial real estate, receiving his CCIM, a professional designation and later moving into appraising and becoming one of the first MAI appraisers in Montana.
Always trying something new...Phil bought into a title insurance company and when becoming sole owner, renamed it for his dad, Sterling Title Services, Inc.
Phil loved being a father and took the responsibility very seriously. A strict dad most of the time but loved playing with his kids...especially swimming, camping or skiing and eventually horse-back riding. As the kids grew tired of the horses, Phil's love grew stronger for his big pets.
Phil took all his sports seriously, whether cross coutry skiing, sleeping in a snow cave and downhill skiing, bicycling and camping across the states, he had a passion for living. He learned to team rope and became an accomplished "header", winning saddles and jeweled silver belt buckles.
In 1998 vacationing with family, Phil was on the beach in Maui when a wave took him down and broke his neck. Phil was determined to learn to deal with his quadripeligia...like Super Man...just too serious an injury. He had a great faith in God and we are sure he is in a better place.
Sometimes life seems so cruel and makes u wonder why. I can still remember a ride home, sometime in grade school, in his dad's car, a Lincoln, I had never seen power windows and electric locks before and played with them most of the way. I was working in HI the very week that Phil was hurt but didn't know for several days that it had happened. A cherished memory will be from the WHS 1995 reunion when I ran in to Phil at the Quick Stop on west 2d street. I was in to get donuts for breakfast and Phil was getting donuts and a coke for breakfast before he drove to Eureka with horses. My kind of guy, nothing better than sugar, fat, and caffine for breakfast. I wish I had moved back to MT sooner so we could done more together.
Phil died in 1998, not 2998...just to clear the mistake above. John K., you must have seen him a few years before the 2000 reunion. Phil did love his donuts and coffee. Had to rev up before team roping, I guess.
Deneanne Winter
PHIL AND I HAD BEEN FRIENDS SINCE 2ND GRADE. WE HAD A GREAT FRIENDSHIP. I REMEMBER OUR TRIPS FOR CHURCH AND EVEN THEN HE WAS ALWAYS ASKING ME ABOUT CHAR. HE WASIN LOVE WITH HER EVEN WAY BACK THEN. ONE OF MY FOUND
MEMORIES WAS WHEN HE AND I WON THE DACNE CONTEST AT
THE DANCE CLUB ON BAKER ST (CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS CALLED) HE TOOK THE RIBON HOME AND NEVER WOULD LET ME
HAVE IT.I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN HE AND CHAR FINALLY GOT
TOGATHER. I WILL MISS HIS HUMOR.
Charlene Lytle (Rygg)
Phil was happy to move on from high school where he didn't like studying that much and his advisor told him he had no future...to become a truck driver. HummmmAt Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, Phil blossomed and received his Bachelors degree in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Religion. He started grad school at the Univ. of Montana which was cut short by the Army and basic training. Phil was a Medic and served in the National Guard...active duty included fighting forest fires and manning the mental institution in Warm Springs when state employees were on strike.
His medic experience led him to volunteer for the Whitefish Fire Dept., using his EMT skills. He became an active volunteer and respected businessman in Whitefish and Kalispell. Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Jaycees, Winter Carnival, church leader, were just some of the activities that kept him busy.
During college summers, Phil worked for a logging company, the Aluminum plant, the Daily Inter Lake and of course selling used cars for his father. On a bet with his dad, he got his real estate license, going on to own his first real estate office, Whitefish Lake Realty. He brought professionalism to the Flathead real estate industry by helping organize the Flathead's first REALTOR organization. Phil went on to commercial real estate, receiving his CCIM, a professional designation and later moving into appraising and becoming one of the first MAI appraisers in Montana.
Always trying something new...Phil bought into a title insurance company and when becoming sole owner, renamed it for his dad, Sterling Title Services, Inc.
Phil loved being a father and took the responsibility very seriously. A strict dad most of the time but loved playing with his kids...especially swimming, camping or skiing and eventually horse-back riding. As the kids grew tired of the horses, Phil's love grew stronger for his big pets.
Phil took all his sports seriously, whether cross coutry skiing, sleeping in a snow cave and downhill skiing, bicycling and camping across the states, he had a passion for living. He learned to team rope and became an accomplished "header", winning saddles and jeweled silver belt buckles.
In 1998 vacationing with family, Phil was on the beach in Maui when a wave took him down and broke his neck. Phil was determined to learn to deal with his quadripeligia...like Super Man...just too serious an injury. He had a great faith in God and we are sure he is in a better place.
John Kajiwara
Sometimes life seems so cruel and makes u wonder why. I can still remember a ride home, sometime in grade school, in his dad's car, a Lincoln, I had never seen power windows and electric locks before and played with them most of the way. I was working in HI the very week that Phil was hurt but didn't know for several days that it had happened. A cherished memory will be from the WHS 1995 reunion when I ran in to Phil at the Quick Stop on west 2d street. I was in to get donuts for breakfast and Phil was getting donuts and a coke for breakfast before he drove to Eureka with horses. My kind of guy, nothing better than sugar, fat, and caffine for breakfast. I wish I had moved back to MT sooner so we could done more together.
Charlene Lytle (Rygg)
Phil died in 1998, not 2998...just to clear the mistake above. John K., you must have seen him a few years before the 2000 reunion. Phil did love his donuts and coffee. Had to rev up before team roping, I guess.