Phillis M. Funk

Phillis M. Funk, 90, of Bozeman, MT passed away February 26, 2015. Phillis was born on February 3, 1925, in Plainview, NE, the daughter of Henry G. and Emily (Gruenich) Mille. She moved with her family to Norfolk when she was seven years old. She graduated from Norfolk High School in 1943. On September 25, 1944, Phillis married Kenneth L. Funk, her high school sweetheart. They were married for 59 years. The two lived in Norfolk until they retired. Their love of the mountains moved them to Dubois, WY in 1978. In 1989 they returned to Nebraska, locating in Gretna. The love of nature and family drew them to Bozeman, MT in 2003. Kenneth passed away in 2003 shortly after their move to Bozeman. Phillis was a bookkeeper for many years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Norfolk where she taught children’s Sunday School and was a member of the ladies Wesleyan Group. She also served as a Girl Scout leader when both of her daughters were in Girl Scouts, and she served on the Council for Job’s Daughters. She enjoyed the friendships in her sewing club which met monthly for nearly twenty years. Phillis especially valued family and was extremely proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed oil painting, ceramics, crafts, sewing, knitting, and cross stitching. When she lived in Dubois, WY, she owned a store called The Yarn Barn which sold supplies for those types of hobbies. She is survived by two daughters, Dian (Jim) Bottcher of Bozeman, and Ellen Konsdorf of Omaha, NE; four grandchildren, Chad (Brenda) Bottcher and Jamie (Justine) Bottcher, both of Bozeman, Krystal (Justin) Winter of Omaha, and Ryan Konsdorf, of Phoenix, AZ; five great-grandchildren, Sydney and Brady Bottcher, Jillian and Alden Bottcher, and Jaden Winter; sisters-in-law, Jan (Jim) DeWalt of Norfolk, NE, Barb Funk and Gayle Beed, both of Lincoln, NE; brother-in-law Bob (Lucy) Bramon of Pueblo, CO; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters, and three brothers. A memorial service and interment of her cremains will be held at a later date. Since Phillis never had the opportunity to go to art school, the family believes, in lieu of flowers, she would appreciate memorials which would provide scholarship assistance for Emerson art classes. Memorials may be sent to The Emerson Cultural Center, 111 South Grand Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59715.