Phyllis Anne Reynolds

Phyllis Reynolds, 63, of Belgrade, MT, passed away peacefully March 15, 2023, surrounded by her family. Phyllis was born May 4, 1959, to Jim and Faye Dooner in Memphis, TN. The eldest child in a Navy family, Phyllis spent her childhood having adventures with her five siblings in numerous desirable locales including Barbers Point, HI and San Diego, CA. After graduating from Mar Vista High School in 1977, Phyllis moved to Malta, MT to be near her family who had recently, and somewhat inexplicably, departed sunny San Diego for Montana’s Hi-Line. Despite the harsh winters, Phyllis thrived in Malta. She worked at a number of well-known establishments including the bowling alley and Dan’s TV. Having quickly integrated into the town of Malta, Phillis's dad and sister, Penny, conspired to introduce her to Scott Reynolds. The two were married in 1982 and became one of Malta’s best known couples for their work throughout the community and as the proprietors of the Long X Pizza Corral. Scott and Phyllis spent their years together running the business, experiencing the outdoors, enjoying the company of family and friends, and raising their two children, Andy and Faye. Following Scott’s unexpected death in 1989, Phyllis decided to further her education and enrolled at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. Phyllis worked hard as a full time student and single mother of two. She was extremely proud of her time at MSU, continually making the dean’s list, and graduated in 1995 with a degree in elementary education. While in Bozeman, she met her second husband, Rick Lyytinen (“him”). They were married in August of 1995 and their third child, Sierra, soon followed. Shortly after departing Montana State University, Phyllis, Rick and their family moved to Wichita, KS. In Wichita, when not dealing with surly teenagers or the day-to-day events of home life, Phyllis worked as a special education paraprofessional, supporting the comprehensive social, cognitive, and emotional development of numerous children. In this capacity, Phyllis impacted the lives of many families; she always expressed that this was the best job she ever had. In 2008, Phyllis, Rick, and Sierra returned to Montana and the Gallatin Valley. Phyllis was glad to return to Montana and the mountains. She has spent the last 15 years enjoying life in Big Sky Country with her devoted husband and two daughters. Phyllis was an avid lover of the outdoors, animals, and plants. In the summer she could always be found in the garden exercising her green thumb. She was fascinated by rocks and geology and the family is still finding interesting specimens hidden throughout the house. Most of all, Phyllis was a kind, generous, hard-working spirit that loved her family. She will be remembered for the devoted way in which she cared for her husband, her children, and her siblings. Phyllis is survived by so many that will miss her including her loving husband, Rick Lyytinen; children, Andy (Heather) Reynolds, Faye Reynolds, and Sierra Lyytinen; siblings, Pamela Dooner, Penny Dooner, Mike (Vonnie) Dooner, Patty (John) VanHoudt, and Phalynda (Keith) Lusnia; mother-in-law, Wanda Reynolds; brother-in-law Al Reynolds; sister-in-law, Heidi (Bill) Holley; grandchildren, Abram and Autumn Reynolds; and numerous nieces and nephews. Phyllis was preceded in death by her first husband, Scott Reynolds, infant daughter, Nicole Reynolds, her parents, Jim and Faye Dooner, and her father-in-law, Joe Reynolds.  Phyllis will be interred this spring at the cemetery in Malta, MT. Details of a graveside memorial will be communicated at a later date.