RAPID CITY -- Alma Bernadine Be Phillip, 88, Hermosa, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, at Fountain Springs Nursing Home in Rapid City. Be was born April 12, 1920, to Walter Richard and Gladys Opal (Dye) Colling in Alliance, Neb. She later told stories of her childhood experiences: roller skating up and down the hallways after hours at Central School in Alliance, where her grandfather Lewis Dye was the janitor; playing jacks on the sidewalk in front of her home with her friends; and the devotion of her Chesapeake Bay retriever, Lady. In 1934, she met Robert Bob Phillip, who moved with his family from Springview, Neb., to Alliance. They attended school in Alliance and graduated in the class of 1938. Be attended Grand Island Business College and returned to Alliance, working as a secretary for J.D. Emericks title company. World War II began, and Bes older brother, Floyd, joined the Navy, as did Bob in February of 1942. Floyd and Bob were both stationed in California, and in July of 1942, Be and her sister-in-law took the train to California to visit Floyd. On Aug. 2, Be sent a telegram to her parents: Getting married on Wednesday. Hope its okay with everyone. Bob & Bernadine. Because of a change in Bobs leave, they married on Thursday, Aug. 6, in San Francisco. They made their home in San Francisco until Bob was stationed in the Aleutian Islands in October of 1942. Be returned to Alliance to await the birth of their daughter, Janice, who arrived in July, 1943. Janice was almost a year old before Bob saw her when he returned home on leave in 1944. Bob was home on leave again in 1945 when their son, Don, was born. The war ended and Bob returned to his work in the construction trade in Alliance. Their family grew with the additions of Mary in 1948, Randy in 1953 and Roberta in 1959. Be worked as a secretary for Brittan Real Estate in Alliance and managed her busy family while Bob often worked out of town on construction projects. When Bob returned home on the weekends, they had a great time with their many friends at card games and camping trips. Be enjoyed getting together with members of her extension club, Just Us Girls (JUGS), spending time as a Cub Scout den mother, and sharing her talents in cake decorating, crocheting, knitting and other crafts. Bobs work relocated the family to Scottsbluff, Neb., and later to various cities in the Midwest, but Alliance was always home base. The family returned to spend weekends and whatever holidays they could with the extended Colling and Phillip families, especially the Phillip Family Thanksgiving dinners held at the Good Samaritan Hall. Retirement brought Be and Bob to Hermosa, where they built their home in 1987. They enjoyed their time with friends and family and traveling, often to Bobs annual World War II ship reunions held in various parts of the country. Be suffered a massive heart attack in July of 2000, and although the family prepared for the worst, she became the comeback kid and pulled through. In spite of her resulting disabilities, and with Bobs devoted care and assistance, Be was able to remain at home and continue to cherish her time with family and friends. Bes first priority was always her family. Her devotion to her children and pride in her grandchildren was boundless. Be was devastated at the loss of two of her grandchildren, Dawn and Deric, in an automobile accident on Jan. 4, 1997. Be is survived by her husband of 66 years, Robert Phillip, Hermosa; her children, Janice (Archie) Lawrence, Alliance; Don (Verlene) Phillip, Longmont, Colo.; Mary (Dallas) Dietrich, Keystone; Randall Phillip, Costa Rica; and Roberta (Jerry) Upton, Hermosa; grandchildren, Brian (Meghann) Lawrence, Seattle, Wash.; Kyle (Kelli) Lawrence, Elm Creek, Neb.; Walt Phillip and Scott Phillip, Longmont; Terry (Chris) Phillip, Box Elder; Elizabeth Williams, Alex Upton and Alma Callie Upton, Hermosa; step-grandchildren Desirae (Rick) Jesse, Fallbrook, Calif.; Tom (Linda) Lawrence, Fountain Hills, Ariz.; and Adrian (Holly) Benham, Lonetree, Colo.; great-grandchildren Carter Lawrence, Elm Creek; Dayn Phillip and Joey Phillip, Box Elder, and Cody Williams, Hermosa; and step-great-grandchildren Geoffrey Phillip, Longmont; Nyx Thompson and Dylon Thompson, Box Elder; and Wyn Benham, Lonetree. Extended surviving family are Harriet Phillip, Moscow, Id.; Jean (Maxine) Phillip, Alliance; and Leo (Zetta) Phillip, Scottsbluff, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brother, Raymond Floyd Colling, and two grandchildren, Dawn Dietrich Krutzky and Deric Dietrich. Be was a fifty-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Aloyah Chapter #185, of Alliance. An Eastern Star memorial service will be held at the Masonic Temple in Alliance at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Nebraska Boys Ranch in Alliance, Order of the Eastern Star, Aloyah Chapter #185, or to the donors choice. Inurnment will be at the Alliance City Cemetery at a later date. Please view Bes In Memoriam page on the Phillip Family Blog at http://kkphillip.blogspot.com.