Those unable to attend are invited to use the following link to live stream the service: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/a25058756547708.

Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Byron was born on Aug. 4, 1947, to Robert and Joan Phillips, delivered by his grandfather, Dr. Clarence Phillips. Byron grew up in Muscatine, Iowa, and was active in the Episcopal church and Boy Scouts, earning the Eagle Scout rank. Special memories while growing up were made at his Grandpa Phillips’ river cottage.

In high school, Byron lettered in wrestling, worked on the high school newspaper, and participated in DeMolay International. He graduated in 1965.

Byron went on to attend Iowa State University, earning a degree in animal science. At Iowa State, Byron was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Upon graduation, he married Rebecca (Becky) Hauck on Nov. 29, 1969, in Kingsley, Iowa.

Byron was drafted into the U.S. Army in May 1970 and served as a veterinary technician at Fort Leonard Wood in Miss. In Jan. 1972, Byron returned to Iowa State University, earning a master’s degree in swine nutrition.

In the fall of 1974, Byron took a position with Dekalb Feeds, and he and Becky moved to Sterling, Ill. Byron was active in the First Congregational Church as a trustee, in Jaycees and Junior Achievement.

A position with Harmony Ag Services took Byron and Becky to Harmony, Minn., in 1987. Following that, Byron worked for Kent Feeds for almost 10 years. Doing feed sales, Byron tallied 50,000 road miles a year.

In the spring of 1998, Byron and Becky built a beautiful home in Fairmont, Minn. Byron worked at Easy Systems and Feed Management Systems, offering sales and customer service to hog operation farmers before concluding his career with Cargill.

In all of his sales roles, Byron’s customers were like family, and he found his work very rewarding. Byron retired in 2017. During the years living in Fairmont, Byron had many friends, and he was a dedicated member and volunteer at the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Byron was devoted to Becky – celebrating 54 years of marriage – and to his immediate and extended family. He was always willing to help with a project as his sons had homes of their own. Byron was happiest driving his pick-up truck or being in a fishing boat on a lake. Byron had a crazy knack for remembering exact numbers, dollar amounts, and roads & directions.

The annual family vacation at Cass Lake was Byron’s most favorite part of the year. He fondly recalled special memories of making breakfast together, hours fishing with his boys and grandkids, and sitting by the lake visiting over drinks with life-long friends.

Following retirement, Byron and Becky moved to Mankato, Minn., in 2018. They enjoyed winters in Mesa, Ariz., where they spent time with friends from Ill. and Minn.

Byron lovingly cared for Becky during her battle with cancer, and then he bravely journeyed on without her through his ALS diagnosis. He was known best for the twinkle in his eye – even when he had lost his ability to speak.

Byron is survived by three sons, Mark (Rae) Phillips of Lakeville, Minn., and their daughters, Elizabeth and Mara; Jim (Laura) Phillips of Good Thunder, Minn., and their two children Sullivan and Brynja; Matt (Lisa) Phillips of Brandon, S.D., and their son Maxwell; sister Joanie Brodie and brother Rich (Pat) Phillips; sister-in-law Cyndi Hauck and brother-in-law Tim (Kimberly) Hauck; an aunt and cousins; nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends. Byron was preceded in death by his wife Becky, brother-in-law James Hauck, his parents Robert and Joan Phillips, father and mother-in-law James and Wilma Hauck, aunts and uncles, and a niece.

Memorial gifts will be designated by the family to the ALS Association or First Congregational UCC in Fairmont, Minn.

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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