Eleanor Frances Phillips, 91, passed away July 13, 2022 at her home west of Hemingford.
She was born January 4, 1931 to Adolph F. and Emma (Kubas) Ficek in Dickinson, ND. She attended St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Dickinson. In the summer of 1952 she met a handsome custom harvester from Hemingford, Nebraska, Lorence Phillips. After a 5 year long distance courtship the couple was married at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dickinson on June 25, 1957. The couple recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Together they worked side by side to build their dream. They have one daughter, Peggy Ann who was born May 14, 1959.
Eleanor will be remembered as a kind, gentle, prayerful, hardworking farm wife who always put her family first. Her grandkids all remember when they were young spending a week in the summer at the farm where they enjoyed grandma’s cooking, baking, playing games and lots of love.
Eleanor enjoyed baking and was known for her delicious 4th of July brownies, Hershey bar pie and honey cut out cookies. She also enjoyed embroidery, gardening, canning, ceramics and taking care of her flower beds. Purple iris were her favorite. She was a 65 year member of St. Bridget’s Catholic Church and St. Bridget’s Altar Society.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Lorence, brother and sister-in-law, Adolph and Carina Ficek of Dickinson, ND, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Arlee and Betty Phillips of rural Hemingford, daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and Terry Jensen of Alliance, grandchildren, Scott Barber of Ardmore, OK, Michelle and Kurt Garrett of Alliance, Hope and Mason Nicklaus of Amarillo, TX, her great-grandchildren, Kayla Barber, Scott Barber, Jr., Aubrey Garrett and Fianceé James Larson, Austin Garrett, Nash Nicklaus, Maley Nicklaus and her special cat, Freckles.
A Rosary service will be Friday, July 15 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Bridget Catholic Church. Funeral services will be Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Bridget Church with Father Matt Koperski officiating. Burial will be in the Hemingford Cemetery.
A special thank-you to Regional West Hospice, especially nurses Rebecca and Krysttina. Also, a special thank-you to Brittney Bauer and Jacob Horstman for their compassionate care.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.