Phyllis Joyce (Shikany) Johnson

Phyllis Joyce (Shikany) Johnson, 86, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2023, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Montana.

Phyllis was born February 24, 1937, to Philip and Victoria (Forzley) Shikany in Great Falls, Montana. She attended local grade schools and Great Falls High. She loved tap dancing, sports, and hanging around with her cousins. She was an only child so she was life long friends with her cousins who she loved dearly.

She met Raymond Johnson, who was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base. They later married and had four children, Greg, Darrell, Vicki, and Patty. She was a loving, supportive and caring mother while raising four children. She also worked at the Westside Burger Master and then the El Ranchito Mexican restaurant. After Ray’s medical retirement, they opened The Country Store which they ran for several years. When the store closed, they moved to Stockett, Montana. There Phyllis worked at the local grocery store and then the U.S. Post Office. She loved all the “Coulee” friends and her children’s friends she got to know over the years.

After her divorce she met and married Louis Pepos. They loved camping, fishing, and the mountains which was enjoyed with her children. After Louis passed away, she went to work as a Civil Service Employee at Malmstrom Air Force Base. She worked at the Mess Hall, Hotel Malmstrom, and Housing Referral. During this time, she met and married Marvin Dodge. They enjoyed going to the mountains and camping in the motor home, which she bought with her Montana Lotto winnings. They always had to be near a creek so Phyllis could sit on the bank and put her feet in the water. They later divorced. After her retirement she became bored and went to work for seven years at the Beer Baron in Great Falls, Montana and then retired again.

Phyllis, along with family and friends went on several cruises, trips to Las Vegas, and her dream trip to Hawaii. She always spent several weeks a year visiting her son Darrell in Portland, Oregon, accompanied by daughter, Patty. They would hit the casinos together and go to the coast to camp or stay at the beach. She also loved to play board games, any card games anyone wanted to play and visiting her favorite local casinos.

Mom was the most kind, beautiful, sweetest, and loving person. She will not only be missed by us, but also her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends.

She is survived by sons, Greg (Margie) Johnson and Darrell Johnson; daughter, Patty Johnson; grandchildren, Katie Johnson, Emily Scruton, Joshua Greer, Rebekah Greer, Jenny Purves, Tayvin Pate; son-in-law, Jesse Almendarez; fourteen great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; and several cousins all who were precious to her heart.

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepdad, Fred Holst; daughter, Vicki Almendarez; granddaughters, Serena (Chrystie) Roberson, and Buryl Hunt; several aunts; uncles; cousins; and Ray; Louis; and Marvin.

Cremation has taken place, and her ashes will be spread by family at a later date at her favorite camping areas.

There will be a memorial service at Hillcrest Lawn and Memorial Chapel with a reception to follow at Schnider Funeral Home hospitality room on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.