Philip Halverson, 89

Philip Eugene Halverson, age 89 of Three Rivers, died Wednesday Jan. 5, 2011 following a two-week illness. He was born in Three Rivers on Jan. 8, 1921 the son of Erling and Kathryn (Patterson) Halverson and was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. He graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1940. While attending Cincinnati School of Mortuary Science, he joined the Navy and served in the South Pacific during WWII. Phil finished his mortuary school at Wayne State University. While working for the Wm. R. Hamilton Company in Detroit, Phil served as a pallbearer at Henry Ford’s funeral. He returned to Three Rivers where he established the Halverson Chapel in 1949 and also provided ambulance service to the Three Rivers area.

Phil has been an active member of the First United Methodist Church since 1938. He served on numerous church boards, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir. He served on the board of directors for Three Rivers Savings and Loan and the Chamber of Commerce. He was a 50 plus year member of the Three Rivers Rotary Club. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Saladin Temple. He was also a member of the Three Rivers Elks Club and the Hice-Shutes American Legion Post #170. He was a former member of the National Selected Morticians and the Michigan Funeral Directors Association where he was recently honored as a 60-year licensee. Phil was a supporter of the Carnegie Center Council for the Arts and the Three Rivers Health Lights of Love project. He enjoyed skiing at his Breckenridge, CO retreat, and purchased the first family pass at Swiss Valley Resort.

Phil was married to Doris Stowe on July 25, 1943 in Three Rivers. She survives along with 2 sons Jeff (Pam) Halverson of Acton, MT and Jim (Martha) Halverson of Frankenmuth, MI; 3 grandchildren, Brianna (Rob) Stoinoff of Osgood, IN, Lindsay (Pete) Lee of Billings, MT, and Philip Erling Halverson of Frankenmuth; 2 great granddaughters, Gussie and Poppy Lee; a brother, Douglas (Carmen) Halverson of Upland, CA; a sister, Maribelle (James) Couper of Fayetteville, AR; sister in law, Pat Halverson of Mattawan; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Stuart.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Eickhoff Farrand Halverson Chapel at 305 Rock River Avenue in Three Rivers. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday Jan. 8, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church at 215 N. Main in Three Rivers with Rev. Ward Pierce officiating. Military interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to either the First United Methodist Church or to the Carnegie Center Council for the Arts. Condolences may be left for the family at www.efhchapel.com