Alice was born April 15, 1936 in Cherokee Iowa to Clarence and Elsie Phillips and was the youngest of three children. Alice attended Sutherland High School and enjoyed singing in the chorus and playing clarinet in the school band. Alice and her girlfriends loved a good practical joke and when they let a pig loose in the school, they were the talk of her class. While singing in various school competitions Alice met the man she would soon marry, Charles Lanham. She graduated High School in 1954 and went on to attend the Methodist School of Nursing.
Alice and Charles were married on January 1, 1956 at the United Methodist Church in Sutherland. After Charles was discharged from the army, they moved to West Branch Iowa where they started their family and began raising their 2 daughters Pam and Cindy. Once Alice’s husband graduated from the University of Iowa, they began their journey to the east coast and many places in between. Moving frequently during the first 10 years Alice did an amazing job making a beautiful and comfortable home in each new city. She began to sharpen her cooking skills taking great pride in eventually mastering her family’s favorite recipes that were handed down by many relatives. In 1973 Alice and Charles settled down in Lisle Illinois outside of Chicago. It was there where Alice welcomed the world of parenting again, raising their granddaughter Nickole, while beginning a 25-year career in financial banking. Her dedication and knowledge of commercial banking brought her to Cosmopolitan Bank in downtown Chicago where she retired as Vice President of the Commercial Loan Department.
After retiring in 2004 Charles and Alice made their way to Rapid City SD where they could enjoy the beauty of the Black Hills and be close to their daughter and son-in-law. Alice enjoyed hosting get-togethers and reunions at their home in Rapid City with family and friends from across the country. Most of these meals would include one of her legendary pies that were loved by so many.
Alice and Charles spent years hiking, camping and exploring the South West finding Kodachrome State Park in Utah as one of their favorite places to camp. Enjoying a roaring campfire and a glass of wine was something she treasured.
Alice is survived by her daughter Cindy Lanham (Michael Slyder), granddaughter Nickole Lanham (Tommy Murray) granddaughter Jennifer Tagle and great granddaughters Lake and Pamela. Alice was preceded in death by husband Charles of nearly 70 years, her parents, two sisters and daughter Pam. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place and a service will be held at a later date at the First United Methodist Church in Sutherland Iowa.
Memorial Service for Alice and Charles will be Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the Sutherland-Larrabee United Methodist Church in Sutherland, IA.
Arrangements are with Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City.