Phyllis Sharbono
courtesy photo
Phyllis Sharbono
RONAN — Phyllis Lucille Sharbono (Van Ness) was born on April 8, 1940, in Ronan. She passed away on Jan. 5, 2022, at the age of 81. She was the third oldest and the first daughter born in a family of eleven children. She was raised on a cattle/dairy farm where she helped with cooking and cleaning with extra chores during the branding season. She attended first through eighth grade in the Round Butte School and ninth through 12th grade in Ronan. She graduated in 1958. While in school she was involved in 4-H and won a purple ribbon on her homemade bread. For her graduation gift, her mother took her on a car trip with her brother George. They drove to Goodland, Kansas, on the prairie to see her mother’s family.
She worked at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula with her future mother-in-law who introduced her to her future husband, Marvin Sharbono. They were married in 1960 and they had five children together. They were married for 50 years. He passed away in October of 2010. While married, they lived in Deer lodge, Florence, Missoula, Montana and Renton, Washington, before settling in Ronan in 1975.
She worked numerous jobs. St. Pat’s Hospital, Woolworths, Hill Side Manor Rest Home in Missoula, numerous cafés, and the Ronan Police Department. The hobbies she loved were sewing, quilting, crocheting, and gardening. She passed away from lung cancer.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, George and Evalina Van Ness; brothers, Charlie Van Ness and Jerry Van Ness; a sister, Marrion Clairmont; four nephews, Brian Van Ness, Scotty McClure, Troy Van Ness and Jason Van Ness; and her husband of 50 years, Marvin Sharbono.
She is survived by her five children, Glen and (Lorie) Sharbono, Bonnie McCauley, Julie Allen, Robbin (Kevin) Bauer and Kristie (Scott) Baker; seventeen grandchildren, Shawn O’Donnell, Jesse, Dustin, Kirby (Sharbono), Jolene, Tyler, Loren, Roberta (McCauley), Jordan (Allen), Chase, Vannessa, Melissa, Devin, Blaine, and Aspen (Bauer), Danielle, Ray Jr. (Dalke), and 33 great-grandchildren, with one on the way. Her remaining siblings are her brothers, George (Marge) Van Ness of Dodge, Washington, Roy (Fay) Van Ness of Arlee, Robin (Judy) Van Ness of Pablo, Paul Van Ness of Ronan, Rodney (Peggy) Van Ness of Polson, Joe Van Ness of Reno, Nevada, and her sister, Gail (Jack) Clark of Tacoma, Washington, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Services have been held.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at: www.shriderthompson.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Shrider-Thompson Funeral Home.
