Harlan Ralph Phillips was born February 12, 1921 in Manhattan, KS to Kenneth W. and Ramona Norton Phillips. His family lived north of Manhattan along the Blue River near Stockdale, KS. He graduated from Stockdale High School in 1938 and attended Kansas State University and worked for the college Dairy Department. Later he worked for Kansas DHIA as a cow tester in eastern Kansas where he met and later married Eleanor Robson of Denison, KS on June 28, 1943. Harlan passed away on Saturday February 4, 2012 in Holton. Harlan served in the US Army during WW II from October on 1942 till March of 1943. His service took him to China and India is support of the US Air Force “Flying Tigers”. Upon his returning home from WW II he farmed first with his father-in-law and later his brother Curtis Phillips before purchasing his farm just west of Denison in the fall of 1950. That farm became home until the fall of 2011 when due to failing health he became a resident of Medicalodge Jackson County. Harlan was a member of Denison Reformed Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon for many years and later as an Elder. He served several terms on the Denison Rural High School Board and was a member of the American Legion Post in Holton. He served on various boards of directors over the years. Harlan was preceded in death by his sister Mary, his parents, great-grandson, Elias Stewart. He is survived by his wife Eleanor of Holton, two sisters, Ruth Prejean of Church Point, LA and Norma (Ken) Casford of Whittier, CA, three brothers, Curtis & Earl Phillips of Beaver Crossing, NE and Alan (Donna) Phillips of Olsburg, KS. He is also survived by his children, Ralph (Phyllis) Phillips of Mayetta, George (Sarah) Phillips of Holton, Carole (Bill) Chapin of Coal City, IL, Mitzie (Steve) VanHorn of Denison, and Margaret (Mike) Sibley of Cary, NC. He has been blessed with 17 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday February 8, 2012 at the Denison Reformed Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in the Denison Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the RP Church c/o Mercer Funeral Home, PO Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.