Sylvester Olin Phillips
August 22, 1951 ~ February 26, 2025
Sylvester Olin Phillips, age 73 of Stacy, MN, went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Olin was born on August 22, 1951, in Chester, S.C. to Sylvester and Marjorie Phillips. He graduated from Durham N.C. Senior High School in 1969 and attended Virginia Tech on a football scholarship. He earned a B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife and an M.S. in Plant Pathology & Physiology, graduating with honors. Olin met the love of his life, Bev, in 1969 as freshmen at Virginia Tech and new believers through involvement in Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru). They married in 1971 as students.
He was an Extension Agent in Emporia, VA, for 6 months before becoming a Forest Pest Supervisor in the Missouri Department of Conservation. Four years later he was hired by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in the Forestry Division as a Forest Health Program Supervisor. During his years at the Minnesota DNR, he worked as the Wildfire Protection Supervisor (Go Smokey Bear!) and the Forestry Nursery Program Supervisor. He especially liked serving as a liaison for Forestry at the State Fair where he emceed performances on one of the stages and was instrumental in re-opening the Fire Tower onsite. He retired as the DNR Deputy Director of the Operation Services Division in 2018. He continued to do contract work for the DNR through 2020, fully retiring at age 69.
Olin was known for his contagious smile, passion for teaching the Bible to all ages, and leadership. His humor, kindness, and generous spirit brought joy to many. He was a member of Lakes Free Church for over 30 years, serving as an elder, Sunday School teacher, co-leader of the grandparent ministry, small group leader, and mentor. He and Bev were volunteers with the national Christian Grandparent Network, presenting conferences and workshops together. Since retirement, he enjoyed Bible study, gardening, grilling, making jewelry and paracord crafts to give away, and – most of all – playing with his grandchildren.
Olin lived a life filled with loving dedication to serving his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his family, and the church community. His heartfelt desire was to leave a faith legacy to his children, grandchildren, and younger generations. He looked forward to meeting Jesus face-to-face and spoke often about heaven.
He was predeceased by his parents, brothers David and Bruce; parents-in-law, Betty and Harold; and brothers-in-law, Dennis and Marvin. Olin will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Beverly; children, Joshua (Lisa) Phillips, Ruth (Neil) Bell, Zachary Phillips (fiancé Angela), Benjamin (Anika) Phillips, Adam (Jillian) Phillips, Rachel (Chris) Smith, Luke Phillips, Rebekah Phillips, and Joanna (Francisco) Salas; and 16 grandchildren: Cheyenne, Erin, James, Irie, Trey, Michael, Lynde, Charleigh, Hadleigh, Zachary, Lochlan, Ransom, Meraliese, Annora, Casey, and baby grandson (arriving in a month). His prayers were that all those he loved would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and someday join him in heaven.
Visitation 4-8 PM Thursday, March 6th at Roberts Family Funeral Home, Forest Lake. Olin's life will be celebrated with a service at 11 AM Friday, March 7th with visitation beginning at 10 AM at Lakes Free Church, 29620 Olinda Trail, Lindstrom. The service will be livestreamed here. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christian Grandparenting Network (Donate - Christian Grandparenting Network), Lakes Free Church (Give | Lakes Free Church), or Arrive Ministries (Donate – Arrive Ministries).
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My father-in-law Olin was the cheerfulest of cheerful givers.
Last Wednesday night, he ran to the arms of Jesus, and if anyone was ever greeted with the words, “well done, good and faithful servant,” Olin surely was.
Olin has never ever left us in any doubt of his love for us, or his love for Jesus. We grieve with hope and even certainty that Olin left us to enter paradise in heaven with God.
How we will miss him.
Olin was a doting, grateful, Godly husband, a playful, steady, wise father, and an adoring grandpa. He was an exemplary family man.
He raised my loving, faithful, emotionally present, God-loving, good husband of 16 years, who was at Olin’s side with his mother and siblings when Olin breathed his last.
Even as an “in-law” Olin cheerfully gave me a full share of fatherly love and affirmation. He communicated clearly and lovingly that he was grateful for me and saw me as a good wife to Ben and as good mom to his grandkids. He would always send kind and affirming texts or voicemails to me on my birthday, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day. With Olin, I never felt the slightest need to prove myself to be accepted, he always fully embraced me as a daughter.
When I became a mother, I grew to love and appreciate him even more, because is there anyone easier to love than someone who delights in your children?
My children lived in the security of his love, thrived in the consistency of his presence. This is their first great grief, and their hearts are broken — except for Annora who can’t begin to understand what she has lost.
Annora has had more time with Olin than any of the other kids, since they have been Tuesday companions her whole life, yet she is least likely to remember his incredible love for her. She won’t remember all the bagels he shared with her (her second breakfast), that he knew all her favorite books and read them a million times in just the way she liked, that in every season of her 3 years he knew her so personally and delighted in knowing her favorites and loves. What buddies they were!
We’ll hold these memories for her, but I wish she could always remember his love as we do.
The rest of us will never forget his unique humble gentleness mixed with strength, his cheerful gift-giving, his love of diet Dr Pepper, his paracord crafts, his showing-up presence—he was there for the boys’ championship wins this year, for the birthdays, the summer grill outs, the fishing, the having of all the tools, the car fixing, the vast horticultural knowledge, the baby chicks in the basement, the dahlias, the reading of the Christmas story, the singing of old southern gospel hymns.
I want to always remember his easy chuckle, his contagious smile, his consistent “love ya!” in parting, and the strength of his bear hug.
Rest easy in the arms of Jesus, sweet Olin.
Thank you for living and loving us so very well.
-Anika (Ben) Phillips
We are so sorry for your loss.
Bev and kids: Joy and I (Scott) have such fond memories of Olin, and are truly thankful to the Lord for using Olin to help us love and follow Him in our youthful days at New Life Church in Woodbury! May God bless you all with His grace and peace, and comfort you all in His lovinkindness. – Scott and Joy Ostrom.
We thank God for the opportunity to know and love Olin and to sit at his feet as he led devotions for our team. Now he sits at the feet of Jesus!
I remember when Olin first arrived to work in the Forestry Division; it was like “POW”! We now have a flaming extrovert on staff. His bigger-in-life personality commanded attention. His gregarious smile, intellect and being able to interject humor at critical points helped resolve many contentious issues. I counted on him many times. He was a friend; my go-to guy for advice. Afer retirement, I looked forward to meeting him for lunch, sharing news on our families and discussing current DNR affairs. Rest in peace, buddy.