Phillip (Phil) Luther Haaland

Phillip (Phil) Luther Haaland passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife and family Friday, May 2, 2025. His family found peace knowing Phil, who lost his sight in 2006, is now enjoying the magnificence of heaven with his sight fully restored.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at Hillside Christian Church Northwest Campus in Amarillo with Chris Condit and Robert Ledbetter officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

Phil Haaland was born on July 23, 1945, in Nerstrand, Minnesota to Phyllis and Donald Haaland. He graduated from Owatonna High School. He was in FFA, worked on his father’s dairy farm milking cows and raising crops and graduated from Owatonna High School.

Phil married Darlette Weatherly in 1966. He moved his family to Dalhart, Texas in 1979 to farm, which to him was both fulfilling and purposeful. He believed, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Phil also owned a Pioneer Seed dealership in Dalhart which became the largest dealership in the country. He raised cattle and hogs as well as owned KDDD radio station in Dumas, TX. He had many hobbies including woodworking, welding, and photography and later, after he lost his sight, chess and cards.

On January 7, 2000, when Phil married Glynette Bowers, they started an incredible life of love, travel and humble service to others. Together they joined two families and created one wonderful life. Phil loved family and was always grateful for the many additions that came over the years. He was an adoring husband, a loving father and an amazing grampa. He had a unique relationship with each person and a steadfast patience to build one with those different from him. The thing he enjoyed most was traveling and seeing the world with Glynette. Besides sightseeing, they traveled across the US visiting their children and friends and continued on trips and cruises even after he went blind. They were thorough in visiting several places on their bucket list, with one of particular importance being a trip to his family’s homeland of Norway with his daughter Lynette and her family. In addition to traveling, he enjoyed family meals and gatherings.

Phil was enlisted in the United States Army Reserve during the Vietnam War. He served on the Board of the North Plains Ground Water Conservation District for 21 years. In 2023 he received the “Texas Farm Bureau Pioneer Award” for significant contributions in agriculture and to his community. This award truly recognized who Phil was. He would always stop to help a stranded traveler or stranger if he had time, and many times when he did not. He was a strong patient leader and never-ending in generous service to the Lord, his family and his many communities of friends, neighbors, online chess group, and his blind community.

About a year after Phil went blind, he decided to write a book about his life. His family will forever cherish this gift. He titled it “Grass” by Phillip Luther Haaland.  

“Do your own thinking,” was the advice he gave when people were confused by too many opinions around them.

Phil is preceded in death by his mother Phyllis and father Donald Haaland; and brother-in-law Charlie Plaster.

He is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Glynette Haaland; son Karlyle Haaland (wife Amy); daughter Lynette Seitzler (husband Bill); daughter Monica Haaland and stepdaughter Misty Maretzky (husband Chuck); grandchildren, Kaleb Haaland, Josef Haaland (wife Kelsey), Eli Haaland, Chloe Haaland, Adam Haaland, Ellie Seitzler, Erin Seitzler, Madison Pharis, Maci Haaland, Morgan Mitchell, Charley Maretzky, Hudson Maretzky, Scarlet Maretzky, two great granddaughters; Brooklynn and Ruth Ann; Brothers Duane and Rolf Haaland (wife Denise); sister Connie Plaster and many nieces and nephews.