Phyllis
Hill Dumon, 90, passed away at the Marias Care Center in Shelby on Friday,
March 12, 2010 from natural causes. A memorial service will be held at the
Whitted Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, March 16, at 1:00 pm with a reception to
follow at the Marias Heritage Center from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. A family celebration
of her life will be held later in the summer at the Dumon cabin in Coram. The
family suggests memorials to the newly established Prairie Oasis Animal Shelter
in Shelby. Donations should be directed to Denise McCormick or David Dumon.
Phyllis was born on August 10, 1919 in Rudyard to Harry and Esther (Robertson) Hill. She moved to Detroit, MI, as a child, attended schools there and met and married Joseph Dumon on June 29, 1940. After WWII, they moved to Kevin living there for 27 years. Phyllis worked in the Toole County Treasurer’s Office for 13 years and was elected Toole County Assessor in 1966 serving 2 terms in office. Phyllis was also a life time member of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW.
Phyllis and Doris Rambo were instrumental in bringing Weight Watchers to Montana and western North Dakota traveling extensively lecturing to classes in the two states. Phyllis realized her ‘life dream’ of helping others.
After retiring, she and Joe spent the winters in Arizona and summers at their cabin in Coram. She moved to Shelby after Joe died in 1998. Phyllis lived at the Marias Heritage Center for the last three years and her latest job was a volunteer folding the newsletter for the City of Shelby. She might stay up half the night to accomplish her goal.
Phyllis loved so many things: she played golf, was an avid bowler, loved to entertain, and was fond of animals … especially dogs. She taught so many how to play pinochle and would play any kind of card game for hours. Phyllis loved to laugh and had the motto ‘mind over matter’ and the mindset that anyone could accomplish anything.
Phyllis is survived by her daughter Denise (Larry) McCormick of Shelby and son David (Kim) Dumon of Somers. Grandchildren surviving are Jeff (Janelle) Platt of Wilsonville, OR, Leann (Mario) Birsa of Anthem, AZ, Dena (Mike) Akers of Fayetteville, NC and Tori (Derek) Price of Kalispell. She is also survived by great-grandchildren Johnny, Jadyn, and Julie Platt, McKenzie Wisdom, Joseph Birsa, Byron Akers and baby Akers due in August, Audrey and Piper Price as well as many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Joe in 1998, great-granddaughter Taylor Wisdom in 2009, and niece Connie Hill Merlo in 2010.