Cleo Phillips

Cleo May Phillips, 83, passed away at Phillips County Hospital Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

Wilderness Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. A celebration of Cleo’s life will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Malta on Thursday, March 2, at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.

Cleo was born May 25, 1939 to Ethel and Gordon Heath in Malta, MT. Cleo developed a love of traveling at a young age, traveling on the tour bus with her grandfather, traveling with her best-friend, Cece Hood, all over the United States in their shared motorhome, never missing the annual Wagon Train in Phillips County, traveling as far away as Greece, and continuing to travel right up until the good Lord called her home.

Cleo attended grade school in California, and some high school in Malta, MT. She met the love of her life, Jake Phillips at a young age and the two were married on December 8, 1954. From the union, the two bore four beautiful children, Patricia Ann, Ethel Marie, William Jake, and Mary June. Cleo and Jake moved to Spokane in 1964 and she started working at One Hour Martinizing Dry Cleaning; she continued working there until she moved back to Malta, MT in 1974. She was the friendliest bartender Phillips County had ever seen and always said that this was her favorite job, as she was able to be the life of the party without being on the receiving end of a hangover.

Cleo was preceded in death by her parents, Ethel and Gordon Heath; her husband, Jake Phillips; her son, William Jake Phillips; daughter, Patricia Ann Scheffelmaer; son-in-laws, Jim O. Watson, Robert K. Scheffelmaer, Dean T. Hasler, and John D. Carlson; grandson, Lance Demerais; and great-grandson, Noah Diaz. She is survived by her daughters, Marie Phillips and June Phillips-Carlson; grandchildren, Misty (Will), Heather (Micky), Brandon, Jake (Gal), Brooke, Jaylene, Brock, Jori (Braydhan); great-grandchildren, Samantha, Lexi, Lizzi, Grady, Nevaeh, De’Shana, Adalee, Kaiya, Kinzleigh, Aubrey, Madysen, Ryder, Cameron, Jackson, Bentley, Ryker, Cache, Cannon, Lucas, Tobias, Kadence, and Olivia.

Cleo never met a stranger, always stopping to visit and make a new friend. There wasn’t anywhere you could travel and not meet someone that new her. Cleo was adventurous, kind, and loving. She was happiest when her home was full of family and friends. Her love of family was so great and she claimed that her family was her greatest accomplishment in life. Cleo loved a good card game, was always up for a funny joke, and wouldn’t miss BINGO unless absolutely necessary. Anyone that knew Cleo would admit that she was one of a kind. She will be forever loved and deeply missed by all who knew her.