Phyllis Y. Huston

Phyllis Y. Huston (aka. Phyllis Yvonne Flom, Mrs. Phyllis Y. Peck, "Nana") passed away on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Glasgow, Mont., at the age of 92.

Phyllis was born March 6, 1931, in Fertile, Minn., a tough-as-nail, six-month preemie, weighing in at only two and a half pounds. Her mother, Olga, told people her wedding ring would fit her as a bracelet and a tablespoon could cover her face. Her mom would keep her in a wool blanket near the wood stove to keep her warm. She had five brothers and five sisters. Just two sisters remain of the Julius and Olga Flom family.

Her dad Julius came to work at Fort Peck, Mont., in 1935 and the family lived in McCone City near Fort Peck (a city no longer there). They moved to Nashua, Mont., when Phyllis was in fifth or sixth grade. She did finish eighth grade.

Phyllis married George W. Peck on Jan. 9, 1947, and they settled first in Richland, Mont., for eight years. Her first job was at the Farmer's Union Co-Op store in Richland. She was also an assistant at the post office and a checker at the grocery store. Richland is where their first son, Randolph George Peck, was born on Nov. 4, 1947.

The young family then moved to Scobey, Mont., where Phyllis sold Avon, worked as a waitress, and during school time in a Scobey grocery store. In the evenings she and George ran the theater. Scobey is where the next two sons were born, Rene Gilbert Peck July 1, 1957, and Raleigh Gene Peck Sept. 10, 1962.

In 1965, they moved to Great Falls, Mont., where Phyllis worked the school lunch program and while still selling Avon, she added selling Watkins and Tupperware to her free time.

The Peck family then moved to Glasgow Air Force Base in 1974, while Rene was a junior in high school and Raleigh was in sixth grade. Shortly after arriving at the base, she worked sewing army bandoliers, tents, and duffle bags. Phyllis ran the Post Office here for 11 years, one month and five days. She lost her husband George, on Nov. 28, 1984. With the last of the boys gone, she filled her time by still going out and selling Tupperware and sold Avon up until the last couple of years when she just couldn't anymore. The computer ordering system was also a problem, but she made it work. She also spent time working the lunch counter at Woolworths.

Phyllis married Eldon Huston on Jan. 1, 1989, another very, very cold day. They honeymooned in Hawaii. Shortly after that, they bought their big single unit on Walnut Court. Phyllis lost Eldon on Aug. 2, 2012. Phyllis loved to crochet, example, she made the Lord's Prayer hanging here in the narthex. Anytime someone visited they usually were forced to take some homemade potholders/washcloths.

She is preceded in death by her husbands, George W. Peck and Eldon B. Huston; oldest son Randolph George Peck; parents Julius and Olga Flom; brothers Jalmer, LeRoy, Kermit, Richard and Julius (Butch) Flom; and sisters Geraldine Dahl, Joyce Fuhrmann and Betty Cook-Volmer.

She is survived by sons, Rene (Brenda) Peck, of McCoy, Colo., and Raleigh (Deb) Peck, of Sidney, Mont.; daughter-in-law Sally Peck (Randy's widow), of St. Marie, Mont.; and sisters, Karen Fuhrmann, of Nashua, and Jackie Bird, of Glasgow; many grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and even more nieces and nephews.

Interesting facts about Phyllis: favorite color - pink; flower - Carnation; food - Japanese (also loves Mexican, Chinese, heck most any ethnic food she tried); dessert - everything except when she was dieting but especially loved Schwan's black cherry frozen yogurt; place to live - St. Marie, she was the longest-ever resident there; place to visit - in her younger years, going home to visit her parents, that's where she is now.

Family recieved friends Friday, Jan. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bell Mortuary, Glasgow. Funeral services were at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 13, at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, with Pastor Scott Kiehn officiating.

Burial took place in Highland Cemetery, Glasgow.

Condolences may be left at bellmortuarymontana.com.