Barbara Willis

Barbara Jill Philip, daughter of William and Marylee (Odlin) Philip, was born January 7, 1952 at Tacoma, Washington. At a very young age, her mother was re-married to Waldo Stone. Jill was adopted by Waldo, but was always blessed by having both of her father?s involved in her life. Jill grew up in the Tacoma area, where she attended the Annie Wright School, graduating in 1970. She then attended the University of Denver, graduating with her Bachelor Degree in Biology and Education. She began teaching at the Seattle Christian School in Seattle, WA. Jill later continued her own education at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle, where she was very active in the Living Water Singing Group. While on tour with the group, she met Randy Willis, and the couple was married on June 8, 1985 in Moorhead, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home in Morris, MN, where Jill served as assistant coach for the volleyball and basketball teams, and head coach for the softball team at the University of Minnesota Morris. Jill then taught for several years in the Chokio-Alberta School District. In 2002, she graduated from the Agrosy University in Minneapolis with a Masters Degree in Counseling. She began working as a counselor at the Lakeland Mental Health Center in Fergus Falls and at the Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris. She continued in that capacity until her own health prevented her from helping others.

Jill loved life and enjoyed singing, playing her guitar, downhill skiing, playing tennis and traveling, especially the trips they took to Hawaii. She also loved her family dearly, and was blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren and a loving husband, whom she would have been married to for 20 years on June 8th.

Jill died on Thursday, June 2, 2005 at her home in Morris, following a courageous, four year long battle with cancer. She had lived to reach the age of 53 years.

She is survived by her husband, Randy Willis of Morris; her son: Johnathon Willis of Morris; three step-sons: Derek (Nikki) Willis of Deer River, Brody (Amanda) Willis of Bemidji and Aaron Willis of Baudette; five grandchildren: Cody Willis, Jaxson Willis, Sydney Willis, Mackenzie Willis and JoLynn Willis; her father: William Philip of Tacoma, WA; her step-father: Waldo Stone of Tacoma, WA; one brother: William Philip of Honolulu, HI; one sister: Melissa (Mark) Hollenbeck of Tacoma, WA; two nieces and two nephews and father-in-law and mother-in-law: Bud and Henrietta Willis of Marietta. She was preceded in death by her mother, Marylee.

Honorary Pallbearers for the service are: Chuck Grussing, Charlie Glasrud, Keith Wendt, Jerry Witt, Phillip Rodriguez and Craig Murphy. Dorothy Maus will serve as organist for the service, with Ken & Linda Hodgson and the Zion Lutheran Church Choir also providing special music. Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.