PHILLIPS: Peacefully in the early morning hours of September 20, 2012, Ruth Florence Phillips, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away at Valleyview Care Centre. Mom was born in Cardale, MB on March 30, 1924 to Frank and Cora Durston. As the oldest of ten children, she spent her early years helping out with her siblings and doing chores on the farm. Ruth attended school in Cardale, leaving home at the age of 16 to work in the area as a hired farm girl. She then relocated to Rapid City, MB where she worked at the Queens Hotel and the Canada Packers Creamery. In April of 1944, Mom started dating Gilbert Phillips. They were married at the Anglican Church manse in Minnedosa, MB on November 15, 1944. They resided on a farm north of Forrest, MB until 1952 when they moved to Brandon, MB where they lived for the next 3 years. In 1955, Ruth and Gib purchased the Massey-Harris dealership in Rapid City, MB and thus began Gib's Service. She spent the next 32 years working alongside our Dad selling machinery and serving the needs of the community. Mom did the bookkeeping, made special trips to Brandon to get a much needed part and in general kept the day to day operations running smoothly. After retiring in 1987, Mom and Dad filled their days with bowling, gardening and travelling as well as their various church activities. Throughout the years Ruth's interests involved the Rapid City Stock Car Club and the Brandon Wheat Kings. In later years she was a founding Member of the Manitoba Genealogical Society and served as the Rural Research Chairperson for many years. A work of pride for her was compiling the Phillips and Durston Family Histories. As an active member of the LDS Church, she was called upon to teach in the Relief Society and Young Women's Programs and she loved doing home teaching visits with Dad and other Church members. Mom resided in Rapid City until Gib's passing when she moved to Brandon in the fall of 2006. She spent 3 years at Winnipeg House and her final 3 years at Valleyview Care Centre. Ruth is survived by her four daughters: Bernice Finlay, Shirley (Harold) Slator, Patty Phillips and Linda (David) Ewald; grandchildren Doug Finlay (Hali), Sandra (Bart Gloor), Cameron Slator (Lisa), Jason Slator (Kim), Tammy Slator, Johnathan Ewald, and Joshua Ewald as well as great-grandchildren Zane Finlay, Melanie and Kelsey Gloor, Donald and Jessica Slator and Kaitlyn and Riley Slator. She is also survived by one sister, Florence Davis, of Winnipeg, MB; brothers-in-law Bob and John Phillips (Margaret) and sister-in-law Rena Cornish, as well as numerous nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her husband Gilbert; parents Frank and Cora Durston; brothers, Billie, Philip, Fred, Ted and Victor; sisters Mary Belle, Doris and Mildred and sons-in-law Keith Finlay and Greg Richardson. Mom worked hard her whole life and the family is grateful that she can now be at peace and happy to be reunited with her beloved husband, Gilbert, whom she greatly missed. Funeral Service took place on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brandon, Manitoba. Bishop Bruce Palmer officiated. Interment followed at Rapid City Cemetery. If friends so desire, donations in memory of Ruth may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 415 1st Street, Brandon, MB R7A 2W8 or a charity of one's choice.

When I'm Gone
When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile

Forget unkind words I have spoken
Remember some good I have done
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I've had loads of fun

Forget that I've stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day

Then forget to grieve for my going
I would not have you sad for a day
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay

And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best
Author Unknown