Stevensville – On Monday, June 17th, 2019, the journey of Phillip Albert Webberson, Sr. took him to the finest gold claim anyone could ask for. He died at home surrounded by loved ones following a long battle with congestive heart failure.
We know Phil is pursuing his greatest passion, gold prospecting. He is reunited with his son, Phil Jr. and his beloved golden retrievers, Zack and Pann, who journeyed there first. He leaves behind his treasured “Mule” (Kawasaki) and his wife of infinite tolerance, Kathy. When he met Kathy, he was instantly captivated by her red hair. They had 28 ½ years of adventures together. Phil’s legacy is his tough, no BS personality, sarcastic wit, and the wisdom he gained from the School of Hard Knocks. Kathy often compared him to a loaf of French bread; crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.
Phil was the youngest of five children, born on May 1, 1946 in Enfield, NH to Fred and Phyllis (Laramie) Webberson. The family struggled financially to the point that Phil often fantasized about being adopted by a Nebraska farm family because he knew they raised corn there and he would never be hungry again.
In high school, he excelled at football, basketball and track. In track, he lost one race and vowed to never lose another and stayed true to his word. His times in the 440 earned him recognition by Sports Illustrated as the fastest school boy on the East Coast and earned him a full scholarship to Syracuse University. Unfortunately, a knee injury caused him to change his plans, and he headed to the University of New Hampshire, earning an Associate’s degree in Horticulture. He longed to follow his brothers into the military but his knee injury and a heart murmur wouldn’t allow it.
His work was varied and interesting and took him on many adventures. He did everything from constructing golf courses to running seismic crews in the oil industry covering an area from Mexico to the Northwest Territory. Later, he owned a dry-cleaning business and then worked for the Montana Power Company. In his retirement, he built beautiful custom wood furniture, and followed his passions, watching the New England Patriots, fishing and prospecting for gold. He enjoyed many Saturday nights playing dominoes and card games with close friends.
Phil privately faced several major struggles in his life which he attacked with sheer determination. Even though Phil had a colorful personality, he lived his life in black and white and did not suffer fools gladly. It was obvious that his personal tenacity was the key to his survival. That tenacity often emerged as stubbornness but his willpower became one of his greatest assets. He credits the AA program with saving his life and tried to pay it forward by sponsoring others. Phil loved animals and once expressed that every time in his life when he was struggling or facing a hard time, an animal was there to comfort him.
Phil had a passion for gold prospecting. He didn’t seek gold for its monetary value, rather Phil’s thrill was knowing he was the first person to ever see or touch the gold he found. He also learned the fine art of dowsing and, truly, had a natural gift for it. He spent numerous winters in Arizona prospecting and became known as the person in camp to seek out for help and advice. Along the way, he met some great people whom he counted as true friends.
Phil left behind a camp of loved ones including his wife of 28 years, Kathleen Murphy. He also leaves two brothers, Frederick (Linda) and Paul (Jan), a son, Asher, and daughter, Tori Chapel (Todd). He has five grandchildren, Drew, Anastasia, Lauralynn, Skyler and Nevaeh plus numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fredrick and Phyllis and his son, Phillip, Jr. and also two sisters.
Phil’s wife, Kathy, often said he was her greatest fan. He will be deeply missed by his wife and those who truly knew him. If you wish to send a memorial, please consider donating in Phil’s name to the Bitterroot Humane Association. There will be a memorial service at a later date. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.