Service Schedule

Visitation
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a Vigil Service to be held at 7:00 PM at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home Chapel in Williston, ND.

Service
Kathy’s Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 11:00 AM at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Williston, ND. Father Russell Kovash will officiate.

The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed, you can view Kathy’s service directly on this page.

Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home in Williston, ND is assisting the family.

Graveside Service
Kathy will be laid to rest in Riverview Cemetery in Williston, ND.

Please Click Link To Watch Kathy's Memorial Tribute

Katherine"Kathy" Phillips
May 10, 1945 - May 28, 2023

Place of Birth: Altfraunhofen, Germany
Residence: Williston, ND
Age: 78

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Katherine “Kathy” Phillips, 78, of Williston, ND passed away on Sunday, May 28, 2023 at CHI St. Alexis Health Williston in Williston, ND with her children nearby.

Born to Dominik and Sophia Chewerda on May 10, 1945 in Altfraunhofen, Germany, Kathy immigrated with her parents, brother and sister to America in 1949 under the sponsorship of the late Harvey and Eileen Monson of Alexander, ND. Her family then moved and made their home in Williston.

Kathy graduated from Williston High School in 1963. She then moved to Minot and graduated from Sisters of St Francis School of Nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1969. During her time in school, she met the love of her life, James (Jim) Phillips from Allentown, PA, who was stationed at Minot Air Force Base.

Kathy and Jim married on June 10, 1965 starting their own family in Minot with their children Jason and Jana. The family eventually moved to Williston during the oil boom of 1980. This move provided her a 31-year career at Mercy Hospital as a Registered Nurse, retiring in 2010. While her husband held a longtime career with the City of Williston and Cemetery before his retirement.

Kathy thoroughly enjoyed her career as a nurse and the connections she made. Outside of work, she wholeheartedly ran the household, supported her children in school, various activities, and life in general. Family time was precious to Kathy. Sundays and Holidays were a huge time to gather with immediate and extended family. You may not get a word in edgewise, but the time was well spent and wonderful memories were made. Time with her siblings, especially later in life, was something she truly cherished. The love for her children was expressed daily.

The love and companionship she shared with her husband Jim was unmatched. Many long road trips to visit family on the East coast and many smaller trips to nearby places such as their annual trip to Medora, shopping in Minot, and many other nearby small towns. It didn’t matter where, as long as they were together.

Kathy is survived by her son, Jason of Williston, ND; daughter, Jana of Minot, ND; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and Grandma’s good boy…Toby.

Kathy was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 53 years, Jim; parents, Dominik and Sophia Chewerda; brother, Roger Chewerda; sister, Bernadette Larson; and brother, Tony Chewerda.

She will be greatly missed by her children and remaining family members. We take comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering in pain and grief.

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Sue Treider (Williston, ND)
May 29, 2023

I worked with Kathy at the hospital here in Williston. Sending her family hugs and prayers at this time. RIP Kathy you will be missed!

Shirley Fender (Lincoln, ND)
May 29, 2023

Oh my dear friend:(. I am so sorry to see you leave this world. We had so many years of friendship and will so miss you. But you are whole and healthy now, and we will be together again! My condolences to Jason and Jana.

Duane and Kathy Binde (Williston , ND)
May 30, 2023

Jason and Jana, we are saddened to learn of your mom’s death. We pray that you share your many wonderful memories of her, and your parents. They were such a good couple, and now she has joined her Jim. I worked with Kathy, and it was a privilege. She was always kind, professional, and filled with knowledge. Sending you our love and prayers, Duane and Kathy Binde. God bless

Marci Arnold
May 30, 2023

Loved my visits with Kathy, whether it was at work or Walmart, we always had a good laugh together! She was so beautiful and had a smile for days! My sincere condolences to her children whom she adored!

Sandy Fetzer (Mandan, ND)
May 30, 2023

My condolences to Kathy’s family.
I worked with Kathy at Mercy and considered her a good friend. She had a great sense of humor and straightforward. I especially enjoyed bringing my kids to her house for Halloween and treat or treating inside her house. Rest in peace my friend.

Kay Jacobs (Williston)
May 30, 2023

The Chewerda Siblings.

Goodbye Aunt Kathy, my heart is broken but I’m grateful you are no longer in pain.

Amy Jorgenson
May 30, 2023

Kathy was so good to give me advice, recipes and laughs when we worked in OB together, my kids still talk about the house with the big candy bars when we would go trick or treating at Jim and Kathy’s house. Our condolences and prayers to Jason and Jana, your mom was loved by many.

Sheri Skalsky (Rapid City, SD)
May 30, 2023

I am so sorry to hear of Kathy's passing. My memories of working with her are so great. I laugh every time I think of her stories and her sense of humor. She taught me so much as a nurse, mother and life in general. The nights were never dull with Kathy and Walta and I miss our "dinner and a movie" days on our days off. She is happy in heaven with Jim.

Karla Jackman (Williston, ND)
May 30, 2023

My sincere condolences to Jason, Jana, & family. I had the pleasure of working with Kathy at Mercy. She was a gem!

Maxine Nelson (Williston)
May 31, 2023

My sympathy to the family of Kathy. This is yet another loss of a high school classmate to me. I will miss the chats we had when I bumped into Kathy while shopping for groceries. She was quite the little cutie. Short on height but long on personality!

Angela Ekblad (Williston, ND)
May 31, 2023

A great person and nurse. Rest in peace Kathy. Much love to her family and friends.

Karen Peters
May 31, 2023

So sorry to hear of Kathy passing, I knew her from Mercy Hospital, she was alway so full of bubbles RIP Kathy.

Jody Lizotte (Billings, MT)
May 31, 2023

RIP Kathy!! She was one of the best nurses I worked with at Mercy.

Ryan and Buffy Ough (Wasilla, AK)
Jun 1, 2023

Jason and Jana,

We're so sorry for your loss. Know that you guys are in our thoughts and prayers.

Sharon Njos (Bismarck , ND)
Jun 5, 2023

Feisty Kathy was the 3rd person to hold my first born daughter in her loving arms. Dr Weins, my husband, Kathy, finally me. I’ll never forget Mark carrying Haley in to me and Kathy was in hot pursuit! Haley had a cone on the left side of her head and Kathy was chasing Mark with a pink cap to put on her head before I saw my baby for the first time. She was that kind of woman, nurse, and friend. To her children… hold those kind of memories close. You will laugh again recalling your “feisty, stubborn, loving” mom. Trust me on that.

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