March 11, 1931 - October 11, 2020
In Loving Memory of Glenn Miller Phillips.
Glenn finally retired on October 11, 2020 at the age of 89. He was born in Troy, Idaho on March 11, 1931 to Fulton (Mike) and Aileen (Chic) Phillips.
After graduation from high school Glenn entered the Air Force and served in San Antonio Texas, Tooele Utah, Korea and Scotts Air force Base in Illinois. On July 6, 1951 he married his high school sweetheart, Rosemarie Ames. Their first child was born in 1953. After he was discharged, he returned to the place that held his heart; the homestead that was established in 1908 by his grandparents.
Once there, he continued to develop the family farm. Glenn loved the outdoors and was up early and late to bed. In January 1961, Glenn and Rosemarie along with their five children moved to the flat below the homestead. His next two children were born and the farm grew into a Ranch.
On the 600 acre flat Glenn developed over a thousand head of cattle which included a high grade Simmental herd. Over time, land was purchased, and the Ranch grew into 2500 acres. He used his ingenuity and hard work to design and build anything that was needed on the Ranch. This included a large 400 acre irrigation system which irrigated alfalfa, field corn, and pastureland.
In 1977 the cattle were sold, and he began looking for another venture: leasing out land to other ranchers in Eastern Washington. Glenn never stopped planning.
In 1982 the idea of all ideas became a seed in his mind. Despite many people calling it "Phillips Folly" the seed grew into his greatest legacy, Sheep Creek Hydro. It took two years of financing and planning to lay the foundation for the building of a hydroelectric plant at the base of Sheep Creek Falls.
With his wife and children, he overcame insurmountable odds in the construction of the hydroelectric project. In July of 1986 the water flowed to the turbine and the hydro was online. Glenn was now producing enough electricity to light up the small town of Northport. He was hard to say, "We're making kilowatts instead of calves."
After nearly 70 years of marriage, Glenn is survived by his wife Rosemarie along with seven children: Jesse (Suzie), Julie, Cindy (Brian), Mike (Connie), Larry (Christy), Molly (Bill) and Levi (Stephanie). He also leaves behind 21 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents Mike and Chic Phillips, his siblings Pat Hankins and Fred Phillips, along with his granddaughter Savannah Day.
His life could be summed up by the words of his grandson. "I don't know how long that big pine tree in the field has been there, but I don't remember it not ever being there.
It reminds me of you Grandpa, you have always been there standing strong, no matter the adversity, you are still standing, unwavering. Always a landmark, always a benchmark for me to measure against, to see where I stand. You are indeed a great man!"
A memorial will be held next summer at Phillips Ranch.