Alta Phillips Egbert

Alta Phillips Egbert, age 92, died holding the hand of her eternal companion, Dick Egbert, on July 2, 2005 of causes incident to age. She left a legacy of courage, tenacity and commitment to God and family. Her beloved husband, grandchildren and many relatives and friends, will miss her. Alta was born at home on March 22, 1913, to Milton and Sibyl Phillips in Tetonia, Idaho. She attended first through eighth grades in Tetonia. She then enrolled at Teton High School in Driggs and later the Ricks Academy in Rexburg. She attended Ricks College for one semester before her marriage. On May 11, 1932, Alta married her sweetheart, Richard A. (Dick) Egbert, in the Logan, L.D.S. Temple. This began a wonderful love story that has continued for 73 years and will go on forever. Dick and Alta were blessed with six beautiful children. LaRae and Phillip were the only two who lived to adulthood, but both preceded her in death. Alta’s children were her pride and joy and she was an outstanding mother. Alta was always an optimist. She had complete faith that any loss in this life would be regained in the next. Alta has been actively involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints her whole life. She played the piano at church on countless occasions. When there was nobody to play the organ, she taught herself to play. Alta was an especially gifted teacher. She loved to write, prepare and present special programs. She served in several capacities in Primary, Sunday School, Young Women, and Relief Society, but her favorite assignment was as a Stake Missionary, where she was able to serve with her husband, Dick. She was very community minded and was involved with her husband during his thirty years of public service in the Idaho Legislature. She also supported him in his sheep and potato farming ventures in East Idaho. She is survived by her husband, sister, Margaret P. Tomlinson (Hal), sister-in-law Lucy D. Phillips, son-in-law, Dr. Merrill L. Wilson, daughter-in-law, Merlene K.E. Park; fourteen grandchildren: David R. Wilson (Jennifer), Marta W. Murray (Scott), Brad R. Egbert (Tamara), Lisa W. Siniscalchi, Monica E. Hobley (Steve), Julie W. Schindler (Brent), Kirk S. Egbert (Kathryn), Anne W. Elkins (Keith), Mitzi E. Mickelsen (Scott), Elaine Wilson, Lowell A. Wilson, Justin H. Egbert (Katherine), Kirsten W. Anderson (Dean), Phillip Egbert Wilson (Alecia); fifty-nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by siblings: Keith Phillips, Newell Phillips, Max Phillips (Betty), Ruth P. Hunt (Kay), and John Phillips. She is also preceded in death by all of her children: LaRae Egbert Wilson, Phyllis Egbert, Richard Phillips Egbert, Lynden Phillips Egbert, and two unnamed baby girls. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 7th at 11:00 in the Tetonia Ward Chapel, Tetonia, Idaho. The family will visit with friends on Wednesday July 6th from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 West Main Street, Rigby, and on Thursday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the Tetonia Church. Interment will be at Cache-Clawson Cemetery, Tetonia, Idaho.