Phyllis Verna Sweitzer passed away peacefully on February 1, 2014, in Coeur d’Alene, ID.

She was born in Rapid City, S.D., to Phillip and Verna Klimetobe on Dec. 10, 1922. Her mother, Verna, passed away in a car accident when Phyllis was only 6 years old. Her father later married Elsie Rassesmen, who raised and loved her as if she were her own.

Phyllis married Robert Durfee, and together they had one daughter; they later divorced. Phyllis found the love of her life, James Sweitzer, and they married shortly afterwards. They had five daughters, and if you asked Mom and Dad, they always said they had six daughters.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her father and mother; her step-mother; husband, James Sweitzer; great-granddaughter Brittany Ward; and great-grandson, James Brewer. She leaves behind six daughters: Roberta Isabell, Dayton, OH, Linda Moore, Coeur d’Alene, Donna (Gary) Fackler , Spokane, Wash., Sandra (John) Hendry, Coeur d’Alene, Louise (Jerry) Lanove Missoula, Mont., and Josie (Glen) Ward, Spokane, Wash.; 17 grandchildren, 29 great- grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren - one on the way in June (which she just found out will be a little girl), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mom will be deeply missed by all of her girls, whom she always said were her babies. She never missed an opportunity to tell us to put our coats on and zip them up so we wouldn’t catch a cold. Yes, the daily reminder to take a nap (yeah, we're all seniors now, but not to Mom). Don’t forget, she'd say, to get to bed early and get plenty of rest. Her favorite time was watching and listening to us girls talking about childhood memories and visiting.

Mom is now with Daddy, walking hand in hand together.