Service Schedule

Visitation
A Rosary service will be held at 7:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2018 at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home in Williston.

Friends may call at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home in Williston on Monday from 12pm until 7PM and at the church one hour prior to the mass.

Service
His Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday March 27, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Williston. Fr. Russell Kovash will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the family plot at Riverview Cemetery, Williston.

Graveside Service
Riverview Cemetery, Williston, ND

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James "Jim" E. Phillips
July 5, 1943 - March 23, 2018

Place of Birth: Allentown, PA
Residence: Williston, ND
Age: 74

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James “Jim” Edward Phillips, Jr, 74, of Williston, ND, passed away of natural causes at his residence on Friday March, 23, 2018.

Jim was born in Allentown, PA, July 5, 1943 to Hilda (Bilheimer) and James Phillips, Sr. He joined the Air Force in 1962, which landed him in Minot, ND. He was actually only days away from joining the Marines when a friend talked him into joining the Air Force instead. His friend told them they would travel and see the world. Well, being stationed in Minot, he did not travel the world, but instead met the love if his life and created their world in ND.
Jim married Katherine “Kathy” Chewerda in Williston, ND June 10, 1965. Together they made a life and raised two children, Jason and Jana.

Jim started working for the City of Williston Water Department in the mid 80’s and eventually was placed in charge of the local cemetery until this retirement in 2010. However, the man could not go long without working. That was not in his nature. He worked part time for OK Distributing up until his passing.
When Jim wasn’t working he was busy keeping busy. Shopping, running errands, shopping, reading every newspaper in sight (especially the sale bills), shopping, yard work, shopping, hoarding, shopping, detailing a vehicle, shopping, handing out sweet treats to anyone and everyone, shopping…I think you get it.

Jim also enjoyed watching movies, watching the Minnesota Vikings, listening to music, hanging out with the family dog, and taking road trips (long or short) with his wife. Some of their favorite road trips were to Medora and across the country to Pennsylvania to visit family “back East”. Jim was known as Sonny to his Pennsylvania family.
Jim touched the lives of many and had a heart of gold. His number one priority was taking care of his loving wife and children to ensure they never wanted for anything.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, James Phillips, Sr and numerous extended family members.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathy, son, Jason (Williston), daughter, Jana (Minot), mother, Hilda Phillips (Berwick, PA), sister, Rose Messinger (Berwick, PA), sister, Nancy Peifly (Allentown, PA), brother, Dennis “Redds” (Ruthann) Phillips, sister-in-law, Bernie Larson (Williston), brother-in-law, Roger (Priscilla) Chewerda (Williston), numerous nieces and nephews.

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John and Rosie Ough (Watford City, ND)
Mar 24, 2018

Kathy, Jason, Jana and Family,
Our prayers and thoughts are with you all. Jim was a great guy and will be greatly missed. May Almighty God bring you the peace and comfort that only He can provide. Love
John and Rosie Ough

Steve Larson (West Yellowstone, Montana)
Mar 24, 2018

I will forever miss your laugh uncle Jim. Hugs and prayer for Kathy , Jana and Jason!

Shirley Fender (Lincoln, ND)
Mar 24, 2018

Kathy, Jason and Jana I am SO sorry to hear of Jim's passing. My heart and prayers are with you. I will never forget him, always smiling and willing to help anyone. He was my angel during the loss of Jeff and will be or ever my friend. RIP JI'm and fly high my friend!

rose messinger (Berwick, Pennsylvania)
Mar 24, 2018

SONNY, YOU WILL BE MISSED BY YOUR MOTHER, HILDA PHILLIPS AND YOUR NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND BY YOUR SISTER, ROSE MESSINGER. LOVE YA VERY VERY MUCH

Kim Miller (Williston, ND)
Mar 24, 2018

Jim was an amazing person. Going to miss him.
RIP JIM.

Dez Muirhead (Sioux Falls , SD)
Mar 24, 2018

Jana, Kathy and Jason, I just don’t have any words to truly express how very sorry I am for your loss. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. The Lord wrapped his arms around Jim and smiled as he welcomed him into heaven. Love you.

Karen Vannatta (Missoula, Montana)
Mar 24, 2018

My thoughts and prayers for all of you! Kathy you and your husband seemed so close all the time, what precious memories you have to sustain during this time and going forward!

Duane and Kathy Binde (Williston, ND)
Mar 26, 2018

Family, Jim was in incredible man with a ready smile Our visits were always intriguing-he did have lots of projects. A life well lived certainly describes him and his goodness. God Bless each of you, prayers! Duane and Kathy

Diane Hayden (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin)
Mar 26, 2018

Deepest sympathy to Kathy and family. I didn't ever meet Jim but he worked with my brother, Jerry Monson, who had a very high regard for Jim. I have to go back to my childhood to remember Kathy. She came into my life when my parents sponsored her family in 1949 and helped them get settled in the USA. We were playmates on the farm in 1949 and friends during our visits in Williston after they moved there in 1950. The Chewerda family was always so welcoming and fun to visit. I will be age 74 this year so I think Jim was too young to die. Deepest sympathy for Kathy and her family.

Gordon,Rhonda Grimmer (Williston , nd )
Mar 26, 2018

Couldn't ask for a better friend, great guy. PRAYING FOR YOU

Melissa Knudsen (Williston)
Mar 27, 2018

Kathy and family
Very sorry to hear of the loss of Jim. I truly enjoyed visiting with him and appreciated his gentle spirit and quick smile. God’s peace to you all.

Pat and John Axtman (Williston , nD)
Mar 27, 2018

Kathy and family,
Our thought and prayers are with you and your family. Sincerely,the Axtman’s

Revs. Philip & Vickie Arends SRPC/PRPC (Springdale, Arkansas)
Mar 30, 2018

Kathie, Bernie, and "Scooter" (Steve),
We are saddened by the loss of Jim. It was an honor to know and work with him. The world is empty without his presence. I worked on water main breaks and cemetery duties with him. One time, he was tired of a low hanging branch over the road, so he set up the backhoe and trimmed the branch with the bucket. Too funny!
My friends, Know that we are praying that you will not be overcome with a "Spirit of grief", but you will pass through this time of natural grief and morning quickly. Jim, I hope we will see you again at the feet of Jesus when our time comes.
Shalom.

Sharon Njos (Williston, ND)
Mar 31, 2018

Dearest Kathy and family,
So sincerely sorry to hear about the loss of your loving husband and father. Good-byes are so very painful, but the promise of "hello again" is what we all have to focus on when we lose someone we so dearly love and treasure. Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers.