Phyllis Egan

Phyllis P. Egan died suddenly at home May 2, 2007, from heart complications.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5, in Holy Spirit Church in Butte. A reception will follow in the Finlen Hotel.

Sur-vivors include her husband, Neal; children, Kathleen (Ross) Broere of Cut Bank, Shaun (Anne) Egan of Denver, and Peggy Egan of Bigfork; grandchildren, Michael Beers of Missoula, Quinn, Conor, Corrigan and Liam Egan of Denver, Egan and Ryan Black, Jeff and Scott Broere of Cut Bank; and "under her wing children," Doug Petty and family, Tim Gleason and family, and Marcy, Brian and Brilee Gallup. She is also survived by her brother, Gary Pendergrass, Lakeside; sisters, Bobbi Jessop, Cut Bank, and Kay (John) Monroe, Cut Bank; and special friend, Chris Palmer, Lakeside.

Phyllis was born Dec. 11, 1936, in Fort Benton, to "Dogie" and Rose Pendergrass. The family moved shortly thereafter to a ranch on the Blackfeet Reservation near Cut Bank. She attended schools in Cut Bank, when not "snowed-in" at the ranch. She particularly remembered a schoolwork drop by a pilot friend-of-the-family after several days of missed school. She attended a Catholic grade school in Cut Bank and was the only eighth-grade graduate.

Upon graduation from Cut Bank High School, Phyllis graduated in nursing from Montana State College. She scored the highest of those taking the state nursing certification tests that year, and showed her nursing skills throughout her career, becoming vice president of Nursing Services at St. James Hospital in Butte until her retirement. Phyllis was a fine surgical nurse, and said it was because she was an "adrenaline junkie." While at MSC, her roommate persuaded her (against her better judgment) to accept a blind date with a "jock," a football player named Neal Egan. This resulted in more than 47 years of marriage and many adventures in child rearing and job career moves - a blind date that completed the lives of Phyllis and Neal.

She served 15 years on the Butte-Silver Bow Health Board, retiring in 2006. Phyllis served on the Butte-Silver Bow Local Government Study Commission (1996). Upon leaving St. James she founded Integrating Technology and Standards, a company that assisted hospitals with certification procedures. Phyllis, along with her son, Shaun, also founded Iron Woman (her great-grandmother) Construction and Environmental Services Inc., in Denver.

Phyllis was always busy, always with time for others, particularly her family. She was the "Old Auntie" (a family tradition) to her nieces, nephews; and "Mimi" to her grandchildren and extended family.

Phyllis - a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, mentor and friend - her zest for life was evident every day with a warm smile and friendly greeting for all. Phyllis was a role model for all who knew her. Her life was a life well-lived.

Memorials may be sent to St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, MT 59004; (866) 753-5496; www.stlabre.org.