Phillip D. Perez

Phillip D. Perez, 87, of Libby passed away Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016 at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center of natural causes.

He was born May 9, 1929 in Trenton, Neb., to Pedro and Bertha (Cuatt) Perez. He grew up in Trenton where he attended school. He graduated from Trenton High School with the Class of 1946. He then moved to Chicago where he lived for 12 years and worked for National Lead. Phil then moved back to Nebraska where he worked as a town police officer in Brainard for a while before going to work as a carpenter.

On Jan. 2, 1971, Phil married Marie Steinaker in Fremont, Neb. They moved to North Dakota where he worked on missile bases doing carpentry work. A year later, they moved to Libby where Phil went to work at the dam for Morrison-Knudsen Co. Phil also did freelance carpentry work for a while.

In 1980, Phil and Marie moved to town and he started working for the Libby Public School system. Phil retired from the schools in 1990. Following his retirement, he worked for a short time at the Town Pump.

Phil volunteered as Boy Scout leader and also taught Sunday School at Christ Lutheran Church. Phil enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards and carpentry work. He was an avid Chicago Cubs’ fan!

Phil is survived by his wife, Marie Perez of Libby; children, Mary Elizabeth Perez of Spokane, Adam Perez of Missoula, and Dan Perez of Ogden, Utah; siblings, Mable DeCaro of Phoenix, Ariz; Dan Perez of Denver, Colo.; Isabelle Harter of North Bend, Neb.; Vincent Perez of Lincoln, Neb.; Juanita Grigg of Redmond, Ore. and Adeline Clark of Sioux Falls, S.D.; one grandson, Jason; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The service for Phil will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016 at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby. Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home & Crematory of Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.