Phillis Blanche Donkelaar, 85

Phillis Blanche Donkelaar, 85, of Kellogg, passed away Jan. 7, 2011, at Shoshone Medical Center in Kellogg. She was born Sept. 8, 1925, in Spokane, Wash. Phillis was the daughter of Larry and Eugenie (Grubault) Tevlin.

Phillis married William Donkelaar on Jan. 16, 1943, in Olympia, Wash. Bill preceded her in death on Aug. 11, 1980.

During WWII, Phillis had served as one of those special "Rosie the Riveters," working on the wings of airplanes. And in her later years, she served as owner and manager of several restaurants in the states of Washington and Idaho.

Phillis was a past member of the Esther Rebekah Lodge. She loved and enjoyed knitting, crocheting, some traveling and flower gardening - especially roses.

Phillis is survived by two daughters, Billie Irwin of Kellogg and Dixie Lee Johnson of Spokane; one son, John Garrett Donkelaar of Yakima, Wash.; seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Bertile MacInturff of Medical Lake, Wash., and Ella Fields of Sunnyside, Wash.; she is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William; five brothers, Howard, Mickey, L.D., Larry and Albert Tevlin; and two sisters, Irene Simmons and Frances Tevlin.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at Kellogg Funeral Chapel in Kellogg. Family graveside services will be held at noon Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at the Newport Cemetery in Newport, Wash.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

You may sign Phillis's online guest book at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com.

Shoshone Funeral Services, Kellogg, is entrusted with funeral arrangements.