Phyllis Marie Tryan
Phyllis Marie Tryan, 81, of Billings, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010 at St. Vincent Hospital. Phyllis was born on Sept.4, 1928, in Medicine Lake, Mont., the daughter of the late Rudolph and Clysta Belisle. With 6 brothers and one sister she was raised in Medicine Lake, Montana. On April 18, 1948, she married Donald K Tryan and they were married for over 60 years. Together, they made their home on the farm south of Flaxville where they raised five children, wheat, barley, large gardens, animals, and were always involved in community events. In 1987 they moved to Helena and to Billings in 1993.
Our mom was always there for her children - a “soccer mom” before the term became popular! Team chauffeur to baseball and basketball games, band mother, and seamstress for cheerleading and drill team outfits were only a few of the things mom did for her kids. She never missed any sporting events and continued enjoying grandchildren and great grandchildren’s activities up until her last hospitalization. She earned numerous awards as the “Avon Lady”, sold Sandak sandals until everyone in Daniels and Sheridan County had at least one pair, and was a top notch Certified Nursing Assistant in Scobey and Billings. There was always room for one more at mom’s dinner table. She was a second mother to many and a grandmother to all.
She is survived by her children, Debbie and Steve Herndon of Eagle, Idaho; Dan and Bobbie Tryan, Gordon and Wednesday Tryan, of Billings, and Mike and Liz Tryan of Helena; her Brother Gene (Donna) Belisle of Bismark ND, Sister and brother-in-law Tom (Darlene) Henderson 15 grandchildren Tina Tryan, Tanya Martin, and Danica (Frankie) Marullo, Joshua, Amanda, Alyssa, and Matthew Tryan, Courtney (Jason) Baker and Tanner Heick all of Billings, Steffanie (Wade) Goldy of Park City, R.J. (Dara) Heick, of Helena, Kaycee (Travis) Emery of Boise, ID, Lacey and Kelsey Tryan of Bozeman, Michael Tryan, of Fort Collins, CO and 16 great grandchildren. Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Don, two infant children, Georgia Gayle and Donald, Jr., and her daughter Janie, her parents, her sister, five brothers, and an infant grandson, Scott Murray.
Friends and family are invited to gather Sunday afternoon for a potluck dinner and celebration of Phyllis’s life at 5pm at Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (2055 Woody Drive) multipurpose room. A memorial mass will be celebrated Monday, January 25 at 10 a.m., at Saint Thomas. Cremation has taken place and burial will take place at a later date in the Flaxville Cemetery. The family wishes to thank Rocky Mountain Hospice, the 3rd floor nursing staff at St. Vincent Hospital, Valley Health Care Center and Dr. Michael Hagen for the kind and compassionate care they provided during Phyllis’s courageous battle with ALS.
Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary has charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Rocky Mountain Hospice, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (ALS division), or to the Montana Officiators Association training division for all the verbal abuse she inflicted on referees and umpires over the years!
Remembrances
Please leave your name and remembrance in this public guest book. Your comments will be shared on this page and forwarded to the family.