Helen J. Phillips, 93, of Mitchell, died Monday April 11, 2016 at Firesteel Health Care Center. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the First United Methodist Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Bittner Funeral Chapel.
Helen Jane Phillips was born Nov. 27, 1922 to Dewey and Doris Bridenbaugh in Miller. She was raised on a farm 20 miles south of Miller, and moved to Mitchell in 1941 to attend business school. On March 13, 1946, she married Lawrence Phillips of Letcher. In 1946, they started farming on a farmstead 10 miles north and one mile east of Mitchell. They farmed at that location for 34 years and retired to a home in Letcher. In 1986, Helen and Larry moved to Mitchell and to Countryside Living in 2003. Helen then moved to Firesteel Healthcare Center in 2014.
Helen and Larry were avid travelers and took many family vacations and completed their goal of visiting all 50 states during retirement. While in Mitchell, Helen was an active member at the First United Methodist Church. She also participated in the hand bell choir and Sweet Adeline’s, and did knitting and crocheting for charity.
She is survived by her son, Mark (Sue) Phillips of Goose Creek, S.C.; daughter, Jennifer (Denton) Chance of Letcher, daughter, Joyce (Doug) Olson of Mitchell, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence, son-in-law, Gary Ehlers, grandson, David Olson, and her sister, Barbara Obert.