June 30, 2025, marked the end of a remarkable 91 years for Phillis (Nickerson) Thompson. Phillis was born on April 11, 1934, in Ogden, Utah, to Lorin Nickerson and Leora (Crezee) Nickerson. Having been born in post-depression years, the family moved all around south eastern Idaho in pursuit of work for most of her childhood. When starting elementary school, Phillis actually rode a horse to school to a one-room school house in Irwin, Idaho -- making sure to take food for the horse to eat throughout the school day, of course. The family ultimately settled in Firth, Idaho, where Phillis graduated from high school. Hard work was always a part of her life . . . milking cows, gathering hay, planting, weeding . . . whatever the task, she did it, and did it well. Her father was proud to tell everyone that she could run the hay fork better than any man.

After graduating, Phillis got a job working for Mountain Bell as a switch board operator. She remained there until leaving to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Central States Mission, stationed in Minneapolis. Upon her return, she found employment in Backfoot, Idaho, working at the Co-op, where she met the love of her life, Gene. It was love at first sight and they were shortly thereafter married.

They began their life together living in Salt Lake City, where their first child, Gordon, was born. They soon returned to Blackfoot to assist on the family farm. While in Blackfoot, their family continued to grow, adding Philene and Rodney. A family friend who had recently moved to Nampa convinced them to come join them, and that was where they set their roots for the remainder of their lives, and where LaVar was born.

Living on a farm was what mom had done most of her life, so she dug right in hoeing beets and driving the beet truck. She also spent a great amount of time and effort gardening and canning food for the family. As the children grew, she took a job driving school bus . . . a job that she enjoyed for many years. In addition to the BIG farm (2,000 acres that dad ran as a foreman), they bought another 40-acre farm, which Mom primarily managed on her own . . . other than the four kids she had to wrangle while trying to get things done.

Mom loved music. She played the trumpet and was a member of glee club in high school and was a member of the Musettes singing group in Nampa for several years. She also enjoyed sewing clothes for her kids and somehow found time to enjoy small crafting and painting projects. Square dancing with dad was a highlight of her early days in Nampa.

When dad began his excavation business, Mom was his right-hand-gal. She drove dump truck for him, shot grade (in that dirty trench!), and shoveled rock and sand day in and day out. She also loved being his right-hand-gal on traveling adventures and serving a mission together in New Jersey.

There was no shortage of hardship or heartache in Mom's life. She lost her mother to cancer when she was only 30. Her oldest son, Gordon, was taken by cancer at the young age of 22. She lost yet another child, Rodney, to cancer at the age of 39. And through it all, she never doubted God and always gave thanks for His goodness. Even when she was too weak to go to church, she insisted on watching from home. She was a faithful follower of Christ her entire life.

Mom was the glue that held the family together. Life wasn't ever easy, but making sure her family had all of their needs met was a priority. Not only did she single-handedly manage the household, but she still found time to be by dad's side -- out in the field, driving truck, handing him tools, or an infrequent night out. She was a committed and faithful wife and mother. Mom never really understood the value others saw in her. She was a strong and capable woman, who loved and served others, and everyone knew it but her. She was an amazing woman, in every sense of the word. She taught us by example how to love unconditionally and how to care for others.

Phillis is survived by her children, Philene (Jerry) Lewis and LaVar (Sharon) Thompson, a brother, Brent (Pat) Nickerson, 12 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren (with two more on the way). She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 64 years (Gene), a brother (Keith), and two sons (Gordon and Rodney.)

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 5, at the LDS Church on Happy Valley Rd. in Nampa, Idaho, beginning at 1:00 pm. Family will greet visitors at a viewing immediately prior, beginning at 12:00 noon at the church. Interment will follow at the Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa.

Zoom the service: https://zoom.us/j/93256793848#success