Phyllis LaVerne (Edwards) Fuhrman, 92, of Larslan, Montana, passed away at FMDH in Glasgow on May 16, 2023, surrounded by family.
Phyllis was born to Graydon McKinley Edwards and Emma (Bergtoll) Edwards on October 4, 1930, in Glasgow, Montana. She grew up on the Edwards home place four miles south of Opheim and was the fifth of eight children.
Phyllis went through eighth grade at Wheatland Country School one mile from the farm and attended high school in Opheim, Montana, where she graduated co-valedictorian of her class in 1947 at the age of 16, along with her brother Bub. She attended some college in Havre and then went to work as a bookkeeper at Ryan Wholesale in Havre, Montana.
Phyllis had plans to fly planes for the Air Force, but a certain handsome Clark Gable look-alike named Harry James Fuhrman swept her off her feet and kept her grounded. They were married in Glasgow on December 13, 1950, and were best friends and soul mates for 58 years until his passing in 2008. They built a home on the Kent Caraway homestead, putting blood, sweat, and tears into growing their farming and ranching dreams in Larslan, Montana. Together they had five children: twins Tara and Tanya, Kim, Penny, and Travis. Phyllis was able to stay on the farm until the very end.
Phyllis was known for so many things and wore many hats: farmer’s wife, mother, grandmother, rock picker, truck driver, gardener, just to name a few. She milked cows and sold cream, and raised chickens and sold eggs. She was an amazing cook and was famous for her potato salad, sweet tea, wonderberry pie, sour cream raisin pie, sauerkraut, cheese dumplings, knoefla, cinnamon rolls, homemade bread, and milkshakes. Her garden was an incredible sight to behold-she called it “her church” because that is where she felt at peace and closest to God. Her work ethic and moral standards were second to none, and her big, kind heart toward others will live on.
Phyllis loved horses from the time she was born. One of her favorite memories was leading the rodeo parade on Flossy. Her lifelong dream was to see the trotting horses and pacers. In 2009 the family took her back to the prestigious Hambletonian, A reporter for the U.S. Trotting Association caught wind of her dream trip which garnered Phyllis several perks-a special tour of the barns and horses and an interview featured on their website. Her biggest surprise was having her name mysteriously drawn to ride in the back of the starter pickup for a race! She was grinning from ear to ear after she made that lap of being just a few feet from the horses!!
Phyllis also enjoyed reading, sewing, playing guitar, singing, yodeling, dancing, and flipping brodies. She was fun-loving and a kid at heart, always playing harmless pranks on her kids. She had her quick wit until the end-especially her 101 reasons why she shouldn’t take a shower or a nap.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Graydon and Emma Edwards: brothers Fay Edwards and Graydon “Bub” Edwards, Jr; a sister, Harriet Carlson; her husband, Harry James (Jim) Fuhrman; a son, Travis Fuhrman, and a grandson, Damon Soper.
Survivors include four daughters, Tara Andren Ebersviller (Dale) of Billings, MT, Tanya Fuhrman of Santa Maria, CA, Kim Madler (John Vermulm) of Larslan/Cut Bank, MT, and Penny Shipp of Larslan, MT; four grandchildren, Alison Maddock Pusley (Kelly) of Santa Maria, CA, Tanner Andren (Katherine) of Charlotte, NC, Ashley Kemmis (CJ) of Glasgow, MT, and Kelsey Madler (Charlie)of Cut Bank, MT; great grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; four siblings, Marjorie Burdette of Glasgow, MT, Wayne Edwards and Richard “Dick” Edwards of Billings, MT, Joan McKeown of Smyrna, GA; and several nieces and nephews.
There will be a Celebration of Life at 2:00 Sunday, July 16, 2023, at Bell Mortuary. A reception will follow in the Cottonwood Inn Convention Center. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to North Valley EMS. Condolences may be left for the family at bellmortuarymontana.com.
Gary Gollehon says
to all of Phyliss’ family, May your family share your Mom’s memories and stories and may she rest in peace. She was quite a lady. Peace be with you all.