Phyllis Luithle

Our beloved wife, mother and grandmother Phyllis Ann (Johnson) Luithle, 84, of Spanaway, WA passed away and entered heaven on January 23, 2024.
Phyllis was born on August 26, 1939, in Cando, ND to Melvin and Anna (Ebert) Johnson, the baby of the family. The Johnson family decided to venture out to Longview, WA in 1945. Phyllis shared in her writings that the move was in a 1939 Plymouth 2 door, and it was so hot that the folks attached coolers to the car windows to help with the heat. Then in 1949, the family moved back to Cando where Phyllis attended school by walking and riding the bus with her niece, Barb (Brandt) Molskness. Her journal states that Trigger, the Brandt's pet dog would follow the girls to catch the bus and head back home afterwards. Phyllis attended school in Cando, ND through graduation. She was very active in the church and with her friends. Some friends like Jean (Wibe) Luithle and Gail Nokleby attended church together and were involved in Sunday school activities as well as youth group outings. After finishing high school in 1957, she moved to Fargo to attend Dakota Business College. One of her fondest memories was racing go-karts with her brother-in-law Eugene Luithle and she was very competitive.
She married Erwin Luithle on September 15, 1962, in ND after meeting in Fargo. Phyllis and Erwin moved to Bismarck where daughter Patricia Ann (Luithle) Donovan was born in 1964. The family moved to Kelso, WA in 1967 in very icy conditions. Phyllis was a mother and homemaker. The family attended Kelso First Assembly of God Church. Phyllis taught Sunday School with her daughter. She worked at Kelso High School in food services prior to Patrick Erwin Luithle's birth in 1974.
The family moved to Spanaway, WA after Erwin retired to be closer to Tricia's family including husband Pat, and sons Ryan and Connor. Phyllis loved attending the grandson's events and volunteering to help with projects. She deeply loved being around family and treasured the family dog's Franklin, Togo and Watson.
Phyllis is survived by her husband of 61 years, Erwin; sister Ila Mae Brandt of Cando, ND; daughter Tricia and son-in-law Pat, of Puyallup, WA; grandson Ryan and Kaley Donovan of Portland OR; grandson Connor Donovan and Fiancé Lily Morehead of Portland OR; son Patrick Luithle of Spanaway, WA.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Anna (Ebert) Johnson, brother and sister-in-law Darwin and DeMaris (Ness) Johnson of Longview, WA, and brother-in-law Jay Brandt of Cando, ND.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at Fir Lane Funeral Chapel, 924 176th St E, Spanaway, WA, from 4:00 - 7:00pm. Come join the family for a time of sharing.
Graveside will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, February 2, 2024, at Cowlitz View Memorial Garden Cemetery, 1535 Mount Brynion Road, Kelso, WA.
If you cannot attend, please sign the online guest book at www.firlane.com. Phyllis requested donations be made to the American Heart Association www.heart.org or The National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org in lieu of flowers.