Wendell "Flip" Phillips

Wendell Flip Phillips, 91, of Great Falls, passed away Saturday, January, 14, 2017 from natural causes at Peace Hospice.A celebration of life will be held Friday, January, 20, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Flip was born May 12, 1925 to Stephen and Emma Phillips in Chico, CA. Early in his boyhood his family moved to Anderson, CA where he lived until he graduated from high school in 1943. Flip enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served in the pacific theater until the end of the war when he was discharged. Flip met and married Lulla Rusher in 1948. Lulla had three sons, Gail, Jerry, and Gordon when they married and their own sons came along in 1949 when Ron was born and Rickie in 1950. Flip was called to active duty for the Korean War in 1950 and was discharged in 1951. After his discharge Flip moved his family to Indio, CA. Flip started his career as an engineering technician with the local irrigation system as a Water Ranger then progressing to soils engineering in the construction, maintenance and repair of the water system. Flip joined CH2M Hill Engineering where his supervising and engineering expertise was put to good use for over 15 years in a wide variety of projects in multiple locations in the U.S. Flip moved to Great Falls in 1990, his last year in construction and retired in 1991. Lulla was diagnosed with cancer, and after 47 years of marriage passed away in June 1995.Flips hobbies included fishing and he found the ponds, lakes and rivers in and around Great Falls to be great entertainment. Flip also liked to do volunteer work and to that end he volunteered at Benefis Heath System for 12 years and also assisted at the Police Museum as a volunteer. While volunteering at the Benefis Health System he met Edna Minckler. They started dating and in 2006, he asked for Edna's hand in marriage and she accepted. They stayed together for over ten years.Flip is survived by his wife, Edna; sons Gordon Finch, Ron (Sherry) Phillips, Rick (Cindy) Phillips, and Thomas (Abigail) Minckler; daughters Linda Vosberg, Betty (Mike) Soltesz, and Wanda (Peter) Diffley; grandchildren Andy, Stacey, Rhonda, Cory, and Eric; and numerous step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.Flip was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers; sons Gail (Babe) Finch, Jerry (Carla) Finch, and James Minckler; grandson Ricky Phillips; son-in-law Jerry Vosberg; and daughter-in-law Sandy Finch.Memorials are suggested to Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St S, Great Falls, MT 59405.