Phyllis Vivian Laird, a daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandmother, and disciple

of Jesus Christ, passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of

May 17, 2026, in Three Forks, Montana. She came into this world on August

21, 1933, at Two Harbors, Minnesota, as the first child born to Gib and

Bertha Londgren.

She grew up on a farm near Marshall, Minnesota. One of her least favorite

chores was gathering the eggs. She was convinced the hens' purpose in life

were to peck at her while she retrieved their daily contributions. A Christmas

tradition in a Swedish/Finnish home was to eat lutefisk and lefsa. When her

youngest brother suggested steaks for Christmas the tradition quickly died.

Phyllis went north to Minneapolis where she studied nursing. It was an

adventurous move as she met her husband of sixty-four years, Larry Laird,

graduated as a registered nurse, got married to Larry, had their first child,

Scott, and decided to move west in the spring of 1959.

Phyllis and family made a couple moves between Three Forks and Bozeman

and eventually put down deep roots in Three Forks. Phyllis served as a

registered nurse at the nursing home, began a long career with First Security

Bank, and embarked on her most important role as wife to Larry and mother

to her four children, Scott, Jim, Kris, and Ben. As her life continued, she then

showered love on all her grandchildren, Joel, Amber, Eden, Jessie, Isaiah,

Micah, and Savanah.

Holidays revolved around Phyllis and the Three Forks' home. Christmas was

a time when many of the kids and grandkids gathered to share life, tell

stories, play games, and enjoy the peace and warmth of the home Phyllis

provided. Friends of Phyllis' children loved sharing holidays at the Lairds

because of the loving peaceful nature of these times.

Life will be different without Phyllis giving others rides to the post office,

grocery store, Senior Center, home from the café, and other small trips.

Holidays will change without the beautiful gathering place in Three Forks.

One thing that won't change is our memories of a beautiful woman who was

not perfect, but she was and still is a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother

and grandmother. She is also a faithful disciple of Jesus, who lived a life that

calls each of us to live for God.

Here are a just a few thoughts from her most recent Mother's Day cards:

"You are the best mom anyone could have."

"You have always treated me so very kind."

"You are a great mom and have done a great job with all us kids."

"Thank you for being such an amazing Mom and Gina! We are so

blessed to have you in our lives! Thank you for all your love,

kindness, support, and encouragement. Thank you for loving us no

matter what!!"

Phyllis will be deeply missed but will not be forgotten. She has left us a great

example in life and a great hope of a resurrection because of the life, death,

burial, resurrection, ascension, and ultimate return of Jesus Christ.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Larry Laird. She

is survived by her four children, Scott (Patty) Laird, Jim (Margy) Laird, Kris

(David) Ford, Ben (Kim) Laird, seven grandchildren, five great grandchildren,

and her two brothers, Don (Janet) Londgren, and Bruce (Patti) Londgren.

Phyllis, we miss you, but we will see you later as we look forward to the

return of Jesus Christ. "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be

uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the

rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose

again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen

asleep in him. According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still

alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede

those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from

heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the

trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who

are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds

to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore

encourage one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, NIV)
There will be a community reception in honor of Phyllis Laird on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 2:30 PM at the Methodist Church annex in Three Forks.

Contributions can be directed to the Senior Center in Three Forks, Montana.