Philip Joel Bent

Phil Bent passed away on February 15, 2025, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. They call Alzheimer’s “the long goodbye,” but somehow, he was still gone too soon.

Phil was born on May 8, 1952, in Portland, Oregon, to Virginia (Ford) and George Bent. In his younger years, you could find Phil riding his motorcycle or shooting pool. He spent countless hours playing cribbage with his wife, Juli, and took great pride in restoring classic cars, his favorite being a 1951 purple Hudson Pacemaker he named Hudzilla.

On November 24, 1977, Phil married Juli Bent in Reno, Nevada. He thought he had cleverly ensured he would always remember their anniversary by choosing Thanksgiving weekend—only to realize that the holiday rarely fell on the same date. Together, they raised three daughters, and from the start, Phil embraced being a devoted girl dad.

Phil was his daughters’ biggest fan. Whether in the stands at their sporting events or buying the whole team concessions—win or lose—his support never wavered. He was also a devoted husband, always finding thoughtful ways to show Juli how much she meant to him. Whether it was a carefully chosen piece of jewelry or a small surprise just because, he made sure she felt cherished. One of his most meaningful traditions was bringing flowers to Juli and his daughters every Valentine’s Day, making sure his girls would always have a Valentine. What started as a simple gesture became something deeply special to them—a reminder of his love and devotion that would last a lifetime.

At 6’5”, Phil was a commanding presence, a man of few words who never needed to say much to get his point across. Yet those who knew him best saw the soft heart beneath the stature. He never hesitated to remind his family how much he loved them and how proud he was of them.

Phil had an entrepreneurial spirit, owning multiple businesses, all centered around transportation. His greatest professional achievement was co-founding Fillups Trucking, a successful dump trucking company. He deeply valued his employees and showed his appreciation by hosting holiday parties and summer barbecues to celebrate them.

Phil is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Juli; his daughters Willow, Chelsea (Zach), and Adrianne; and his cherished grandchildren, Phoenix, Aiden, Kaiya, Beatrix, Eleanora, Abbie, Hudson, and Oliver. He leaves behind countless friends and family who will miss him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association.