Hack Phillips died at home on Dec. 6, 2006, of cancer.
He was born in Livingston on Oct. 11, 1917, the first child of William and Julia Hackert Phillips. In 1920, the family moved to Laurel where Hack and his five siblings attended school. He loved his summers spent working on the Hackert family ranch in Buffalo, Wyo.
After graduation from Laurel High School in 1935, Hack joined the Navy. He served in the South China Asiatic Fleet on several ships and was aboard the USS Tangier during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. As chief quartermaster, Hack earned a commendation for sounding the first general alarm in response to the attack. In 1946, Hack joined the Army Air Corps, which became the Air Force the next year. He learned and taught aircraft maintenance and developed the first course for training jet mechanics. In the Korean War, he supervised aircraft maintenance with a bombardier squadron.
Hack was a principled man of many talents and interests who loved to teach. His skills included electronics, woodworking, automobile and motorcycle maintenance and repair, computers and housing construction. He also played the bagpipes, was a pipe major of the local band and taught drumming there. He was devoted to his family and was a positive influence in the lives of his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
In August 1942, Hack married Kathleen Starkey of Laurel. Together, they raised three children, William Jr., Jennie and Lucinda, and made homes in several states. They returned to Montana annually to vacation with family. Hack and his brothers participated in the July Yellowstone Boat Floats for many years.
After retiring in 1956 from the Air Force as a master sergeant, and earning numerous medals and commendations, Hack was hired to continue the same work at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Ill., where he and his family lived until his second retirement in 1970. Returning to Laurel, Hack founded an appliance repair company and taught refrigeration, heating and air conditioning at the Billings Vocational-Technical School from 1972 to 1982, when he again retired. Kathleen died in Laurel in April 1988.
In November 1991, Hack married Sally Holden of Billings. While residing in Laurel, they enjoyed square- and round-dancing, rode motorcycles and traveled the United States sightseeing and attending Navy ship reunions.
Hack was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clifford, Harry and James Phillips; and great-grandson, George Jesfjeld.
He is survived by wife Sally; son, Bill Phillips (Ann) of Lewistown; daughters, Jennie Ekwortzel and Cindy Phillips of Helena; stepson, Jamie Smith (Dona Laurita) of Boulder, Colo.; stepdaughter, Sarah Smith of Billings; grandchildren, Tracy Aylward (Peter) of Sydney, Australia; Matthew Phillips (Valorie) of Miles City; David Emineth of Tucson, Ariz.; Abbie Jesfjeld (Jens) of Hettinger, N.D.; Sasha Reid (Chuck) of Helena; Jordan Phillips of Helena; Julietta and Nikolai Laurita-Smith of Boulder and eight great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brother, Rudy Phillips (Bligh) of Bozeman; sister, Armelda Sassano (Michael) of Helena; sisters-in-law, Nancy Phillips of Helena; Barbara Miller (Larry) and Mardie Holden of Seattle and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation was handled by Cremation or Funeral Gallery. Following Hack's wishes, there will be no memorial service, he would suggest spending special time with your family instead. His family will meet at a later date to celebrate him.
Memorial contributions may be made to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT, 59107, which has provided expert and loving care to Hack and Sally for the past year.
Express condolences at http://www.legacy.com/HelenaIR/.
Published in the Helena Independent Record on 12/9/2006.
He was born in Livingston on Oct. 11, 1917, the first child of William and Julia Hackert Phillips. In 1920, the family moved to Laurel where Hack and his five siblings attended school. He loved his summers spent working on the Hackert family ranch in Buffalo, Wyo.
After graduation from Laurel High School in 1935, Hack joined the Navy. He served in the South China Asiatic Fleet on several ships and was aboard the USS Tangier during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. As chief quartermaster, Hack earned a commendation for sounding the first general alarm in response to the attack. In 1946, Hack joined the Army Air Corps, which became the Air Force the next year. He learned and taught aircraft maintenance and developed the first course for training jet mechanics. In the Korean War, he supervised aircraft maintenance with a bombardier squadron.
Hack was a principled man of many talents and interests who loved to teach. His skills included electronics, woodworking, automobile and motorcycle maintenance and repair, computers and housing construction. He also played the bagpipes, was a pipe major of the local band and taught drumming there. He was devoted to his family and was a positive influence in the lives of his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
In August 1942, Hack married Kathleen Starkey of Laurel. Together, they raised three children, William Jr., Jennie and Lucinda, and made homes in several states. They returned to Montana annually to vacation with family. Hack and his brothers participated in the July Yellowstone Boat Floats for many years.
After retiring in 1956 from the Air Force as a master sergeant, and earning numerous medals and commendations, Hack was hired to continue the same work at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Ill., where he and his family lived until his second retirement in 1970. Returning to Laurel, Hack founded an appliance repair company and taught refrigeration, heating and air conditioning at the Billings Vocational-Technical School from 1972 to 1982, when he again retired. Kathleen died in Laurel in April 1988.
In November 1991, Hack married Sally Holden of Billings. While residing in Laurel, they enjoyed square- and round-dancing, rode motorcycles and traveled the United States sightseeing and attending Navy ship reunions.
Hack was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clifford, Harry and James Phillips; and great-grandson, George Jesfjeld.
He is survived by wife Sally; son, Bill Phillips (Ann) of Lewistown; daughters, Jennie Ekwortzel and Cindy Phillips of Helena; stepson, Jamie Smith (Dona Laurita) of Boulder, Colo.; stepdaughter, Sarah Smith of Billings; grandchildren, Tracy Aylward (Peter) of Sydney, Australia; Matthew Phillips (Valorie) of Miles City; David Emineth of Tucson, Ariz.; Abbie Jesfjeld (Jens) of Hettinger, N.D.; Sasha Reid (Chuck) of Helena; Jordan Phillips of Helena; Julietta and Nikolai Laurita-Smith of Boulder and eight great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brother, Rudy Phillips (Bligh) of Bozeman; sister, Armelda Sassano (Michael) of Helena; sisters-in-law, Nancy Phillips of Helena; Barbara Miller (Larry) and Mardie Holden of Seattle and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation was handled by Cremation or Funeral Gallery. Following Hack's wishes, there will be no memorial service, he would suggest spending special time with your family instead. His family will meet at a later date to celebrate him.
Memorial contributions may be made to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT, 59107, which has provided expert and loving care to Hack and Sally for the past year.
Express condolences at http://www.legacy.com/HelenaIR/.
Published in the Helena Independent Record on 12/9/2006.
Hack Phillips died at home on Dec. 6, 2006, of cancer.
He was born in Livingston on Oct. 11, 1917, the first child of William and Julia Hackert Phillips. In 1920, the family moved to Laurel where Hack and his five siblings attended school. He loved his summers spent working on the Hackert family ranch in Buffalo, Wyo.
After graduation from Laurel High School in 1935, Hack joined the Navy. He served in the South China Asiatic Fleet on several ships and was aboard the USS Tangier during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. As chief quartermaster, Hack earned a commendation for sounding the first general alarm in response to the attack. In 1946, Hack joined the Army Air Corps, which became the Air Force the next year. He learned and taught aircraft maintenance and developed the first course for training jet mechanics. In the Korean War, he supervised aircraft maintenance with a bombardier squadron.
Hack was a principled man of many talents and interests who loved to teach. His skills included electronics, woodworking, automobile and motorcycle maintenance and repair, computers and housing construction. He also played the bagpipes, was a pipe major of the local band and taught drumming there. He was devoted to his family and was a positive influence in the lives of his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
In August 1942, Hack married Kathleen Starkey of Laurel. Together, they raised three children, William Jr., Jennie and Lucinda, and made homes in several states. They returned to Montana annually to vacation with family. Hack and his brothers participated in the July Yellowstone Boat Floats for many years.
After retiring in 1956 from the Air Force as a master sergeant, and earning numerous medals and commendations, Hack was hired to continue the same work at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Ill., where he and his family lived until his second retirement in 1970. Returning to Laurel, Hack founded an appliance repair company and taught refrigeration, heating and air conditioning at the Billings Vocational-Technical School from 1972 to 1982, when he again retired. Kathleen died in Laurel in April 1988.
In November 1991, Hack married Sally Holden of Billings. While residing in Laurel, they enjoyed square- and round-dancing, rode motorcycles and traveled the United States sightseeing and attending Navy ship reunions.
Hack was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clifford, Harry and James Phillips; and great-grandson, George Jesfjeld.
He is survived by wife Sally; son, Bill Phillips (Ann) of Lewistown; daughters, Jennie Ekwortzel and Cindy Phillips of Helena; stepson, Jamie Smith (Dona Laurita) of Boulder, Colo.; stepdaughter, Sarah Smith of Billings; grandchildren, Tracy Aylward (Peter) of Sydney, Australia; Matthew Phillips (Valorie) of Miles City; David Emineth of Tucson, Ariz.; Abbie Jesfjeld (Jens) of Hettinger, N.D.; Sasha Reid (Chuck) of Helena; Jordan Phillips of Helena; Julietta and Nikolai Laurita-Smith of Boulder and eight great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brother, Rudy Phillips (Bligh) of Bozeman; sister, Armelda Sassano (Michael) of Helena; sisters-in-law, Nancy Phillips of Helena; Barbara Miller (Larry) and Mardie Holden of Seattle and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation was handled by Cremation or Funeral Gallery. Following Hack's wishes, there will be no memorial service, he would suggest spending special time with your family instead. His family will meet at a later date to celebrate him.
Memorial contributions may be made to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT, 59107, which has provided expert and loving care to Hack and Sally for the past year.
Express condolences at http://www.legacy.com/HelenaIR/.
Published in the Helena Independent Record on 12/9/2006.
He was born in Livingston on Oct. 11, 1917, the first child of William and Julia Hackert Phillips. In 1920, the family moved to Laurel where Hack and his five siblings attended school. He loved his summers spent working on the Hackert family ranch in Buffalo, Wyo.
After graduation from Laurel High School in 1935, Hack joined the Navy. He served in the South China Asiatic Fleet on several ships and was aboard the USS Tangier during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. As chief quartermaster, Hack earned a commendation for sounding the first general alarm in response to the attack. In 1946, Hack joined the Army Air Corps, which became the Air Force the next year. He learned and taught aircraft maintenance and developed the first course for training jet mechanics. In the Korean War, he supervised aircraft maintenance with a bombardier squadron.
Hack was a principled man of many talents and interests who loved to teach. His skills included electronics, woodworking, automobile and motorcycle maintenance and repair, computers and housing construction. He also played the bagpipes, was a pipe major of the local band and taught drumming there. He was devoted to his family and was a positive influence in the lives of his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
In August 1942, Hack married Kathleen Starkey of Laurel. Together, they raised three children, William Jr., Jennie and Lucinda, and made homes in several states. They returned to Montana annually to vacation with family. Hack and his brothers participated in the July Yellowstone Boat Floats for many years.
After retiring in 1956 from the Air Force as a master sergeant, and earning numerous medals and commendations, Hack was hired to continue the same work at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Ill., where he and his family lived until his second retirement in 1970. Returning to Laurel, Hack founded an appliance repair company and taught refrigeration, heating and air conditioning at the Billings Vocational-Technical School from 1972 to 1982, when he again retired. Kathleen died in Laurel in April 1988.
In November 1991, Hack married Sally Holden of Billings. While residing in Laurel, they enjoyed square- and round-dancing, rode motorcycles and traveled the United States sightseeing and attending Navy ship reunions.
Hack was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clifford, Harry and James Phillips; and great-grandson, George Jesfjeld.
He is survived by wife Sally; son, Bill Phillips (Ann) of Lewistown; daughters, Jennie Ekwortzel and Cindy Phillips of Helena; stepson, Jamie Smith (Dona Laurita) of Boulder, Colo.; stepdaughter, Sarah Smith of Billings; grandchildren, Tracy Aylward (Peter) of Sydney, Australia; Matthew Phillips (Valorie) of Miles City; David Emineth of Tucson, Ariz.; Abbie Jesfjeld (Jens) of Hettinger, N.D.; Sasha Reid (Chuck) of Helena; Jordan Phillips of Helena; Julietta and Nikolai Laurita-Smith of Boulder and eight great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brother, Rudy Phillips (Bligh) of Bozeman; sister, Armelda Sassano (Michael) of Helena; sisters-in-law, Nancy Phillips of Helena; Barbara Miller (Larry) and Mardie Holden of Seattle and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation was handled by Cremation or Funeral Gallery. Following Hack's wishes, there will be no memorial service, he would suggest spending special time with your family instead. His family will meet at a later date to celebrate him.
Memorial contributions may be made to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT, 59107, which has provided expert and loving care to Hack and Sally for the past year.
Express condolences at http://www.legacy.com/HelenaIR/.
Published in the Helena Independent Record on 12/9/2006.
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