Phyllis A. Kelly

Butte lost another great lady and wonderful wife and mother. She will be missed greatly by her family and friends. Phyllis A. (Larson Richards) Kelly passed away Saturday morning at the Bee Hive Homes. She was born in Butte March 23, 1931 to Theodore and Bessie (Blaskovich) Larson and was the 4th of 6 children (Edythe, Esther, Lorraine, Philman and Theodore). Phyllis grew up in McQueen, attended Butte schools and enjoyed playing softball as a child. One of her fondest memories was marching in the Rose Bowl Parade as a twirler with the Butte High Band. She worked for Safeway on Granite Street and Front Street for over 35 years. Following retirement, Phyllis took up golf and quickly became quite good. She was an active member of the Highland View and Butte Country Clubs and played and routinely won many local competitions. She also loved playing cards, especially pinochle and cribbage. Phyllis was a longtime member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Phyllis married Raymond Richards in Butte on August 25, 1949 and they enjoyed 40+ years of marriage until Ray’s death in 1990. Phyllis married Don “Coke” Kelly on February 14, 1993 and they enjoyed 13 years together. Don passed away in 2006. Phyllis is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Ron and Debra Richards (their son Ryan and his wife Erin and son Reece, their son Rory and wife Kat and their daughter Raelyn), Ted and Sandra Richards (their children Jami and Heidi, 5 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild), Doug and Susan Richards (their children Garret and Colby); daughter and son-in-law, Raone and John Yakawich (their daughter Januarie, her husband Trever Hellman and their son Hunter, their daughter, Season and her husband Brian Woerner (their sons Jackson and Lee). Phyllis is also survived by her sisters Lorraine Byrne of Butte and Esther Jordan of Colorado. Phyllis was a very strong and classy lady. She never let things or illness get her down and when describing her life, she said “I had a wonderful life - I had a good job, 2 wonderful husbands, and was blessed with all of my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I had a lot of fun.” Memorial services will be conducted at a later date and will be announced.

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Phyllis A. Kelly

March 23, 1931 - July 21, 2018