Phillip O. "Phil" Ballard

HAMILTON - Phillip O. (Phil) Ballard, 84, of Hamilton passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at the Marcus Daly Hospice and Palliative Care Center.

Phil was third of six children born on October 10, 1929 to Hal and Mildred Ballard in Fairfield, ID. He moved to Bellingham, WA as a baby, attending all twelve years of school there, graduating from Bellingham High School.

Phil graduated from Washington State College and Los Angeles State College with degrees in
Engineering. He spent two years in the army after graduating from WSC. Most of that time was spent in Mannheim, Germany.

Phil started with the U.S. Forest Service in 1958 working on forests in Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Montana, retiring in 1986.

After retirement, he and Clare built their retirement home on Sleeping Child Creek near Hamilton, enjoying many years there. They spent many winters in Arizona and Texas.

Phil enjoyed family and friends. He also enjoyed golfing, fishing, and hunting.

He is survived by his wife Clare, daughters, Gail (Tom) Wilmot of Midland, MI and Lorri (Bob) Scarr of Tucson, AZ; son, John (Pam) Ballard of Belgrade, MT; grandchildren, Lacey (Arun) Rao, Rick (Tatiana) Wilmot, Kelly Scarr, Kyle (Morgan) Scarr, and Kaycee Scarr; great-granddaughter, Lucy Rao; great-grandson, Flynn Scarr; brother, Bob, and three nephews and one niece.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Hal and Mildred Ballard; brothers, Don and Charles; and sisters, Ramona Villani and Yvanda St. Amour.

Memorials may be made in Phil's name to the Bitterroot Valley Relay for Life (American Cancer Society, 3550 Mullan Rd., Missoula, MT 59808), Bitterroot Valley Veterans Monument (P.O. Box 1391, Hamilton, MT 59840), or Marcus Daly Hospice (1200 Westwood Dr., Hamilton, MT 59840).