Katherine Elizabeth Wheeler "Cassie" Phillips

Katherine Elizabeth "Cassie" Wheeler Phillips, 97, passed away at her home Tuesday, March 19, 2014, surrounded by her family. Cassie was born on March 28, 1916, to Emily Rosenquist and Thomas M. Wheeler in Willmar, Minn. As a young child, she moved with her family to Washington state and then the Mission Valley, before eventually settling in the lower Grant Creek area of Missoula.

As a young woman Cassie attended Business College and the Modern Beauty School. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Clifford Phillips. The two were married on Jan. 2, 1941, at St. Francis Xavier Church. Shortly after, Cliff and Cassie moved to Portland, Ore., where they both worked as welders building Liberty ships at the Kaiser Shipyard as part of the war effort. When World War II ended, they returned to Missoula and settled again in the Grant Creek area. In 1962, they built the Five Valleys Go-Kart Track which they operated with their family until 1967.

As a devoted wife and mother Cassie was happiest when she was cooking and sewing for her family. No one ever left her house hungry. Her ham, potato salad and chocolate cake are legendary. She had a pioneer spirit honed when she was a young girl working with her family in the cook shack during the construction of the Pablo Dam in the Mission Valley.

Cliff and Cassie loved adventure and traveled frequently. On one of their many road trips, they discovered and fell in love with the desert Southwest and made it their annual winter home.

The seventh of 10 children, Cassie was the last living member of her birth family. She was preceded in death by Cliff, her loving husband of 57 years, and her daughter-in-law, Linda Weikel Phillips of Eagle, Idaho; her parents and nine brothers and sisters, Thomas Wheeler, Sadie Osborne, Frances VanDusen, Mary Wheeler, Joe Wheeler, Mike Wheeler, John Wheeler, Dorothy Ryan, Bill Wheeler and many nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her children, Sharon Gallagher of Missoula, Jim and Janice Phillips of Big Arm, Linda and Ken Trickey of Ronan, Rick Phillips and Ranae Jolley of Eagle, Idaho, Marcia and George Hart of Missoula and Penny and Don Bumpus of Poulsbo, Wash., as well as 24 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; her sister-in-law Blanche Wheeler of Missoula and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Cassie's life will begin with a recitation of the Rosary on Monday evening at 7 p.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 217 Tremont St., in Missoula. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday at 10 a.m., also at St. Anthony's Church.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to Fran and Bob King for their weekly visits and the faithful delivery of the Holy Eucharist to our mom. Also, a special thanks to Partners in Home Care Hospice for all the wonderful support and care they have provided to Mom and our family.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Partners in Home Care Hospice, 2687 Palmer St., Missoula, Montana, 59808, or a charity of your choice.
Read Katherine Wheeler Phillips's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.