Becker-Rabon Funeral Home
Memorial service for Martha E. Phillips will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 31, 2022, in the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Roy A. Phillips, Jr., of College Heights Baptist Church, Soldotna, Alaska officiating.
Burial will be in the Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma.
The service may be viewed by following the live stream link at www.beckerfuneral.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.
Martha Elizabeth Berquist Phillips passed away surrounded by family on Friday, October 21, 2022 in Lawton. Martha was born to Warren and Esther Bell Berquist on February 22, 1932. She grew up in Milford and Hopedale, Massachusetts and graduated from Hopedale High School in 1951. She married her first love, Benjamin F. Phillips, Jr. of Tilghman Island, Maryland, in October 1951. They had three sons, Benjamin Phillips, III, James Phillips, and Roy Phillips. She was an Army wife, moving with her husband around the United States and Europe until his death in Vietnam on October 7, 1967.
Martha earned a nursing certificate from Cameron University in 1971 and afterwards worked as an LPN. She provided safe secure housing for families as a landlord in Lawton for 55 years. She enjoyed fishing and camping at area lakes with her family. She was a member of the Lawton Saddle Club and enjoyed riding and caring for her horses with her sons.
She was a faithful 55-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and loved her sisters and brothers. She was a member of the Lawton and Elgin Chapters. She held many offices including the highest office in a local Chapter, Past Matron. She served as Grand Page to the Worthy Grand Matron for 2018 of the Eastern Star. Through her travels up the Grand Line, Martha was an invaluable source of inspiration and wisdom to her Grand Officer. "Our golden chain has once again been broken with the passing of another precious link to be reunited in the celestial realm above."
Martha is survived by her brother, Robert Berquist of Chesapeake, Virginia, and her sister, Barbara Ann Palermo of Glen Head, New York, her three sons and their children survive her as well. She was an important part of the lives of her grandchildren, Tonya Kopsky, Benjamin Phillips, IV, Cindy Caldwell, Roy Phillips, Jr, Samuel Phillips, and Anna Phillips. She was a beloved great grandmother and aunt.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and siblings Warren Berquist of Clearwater, Florida, and Jean Barrows of Bellingham, Massachusetts, and brother Richard Berquist of Clearwater, Florida.
The family request that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to the Masonic Children's Hospital, mhealthfairview.org/About-Us/giving or 2450 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55455
An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com
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