Rebecca "Becky" Bentsen Phillips

Rebecca (Becky) Bentsen Phillips passed away peacefully on February 10, 2026 after living with dementia for several years. While the disease slowly dimmed cherished memories, it could not erase her love for her family or her sharp wit, which remained until the end. She was 77 years old.

Becky was born on December 3, 1948 in San Antonio, Texas to Donald Bentsen and Nell McCarter Bentsen. She was raised in McAllen, Texas with her three siblings Don Jr., Kathy, and Karen. Growing up, Becky loved horses, barrel racing, her 1966 black Buick Riviera, and reading. She was also a licensed pilot who first soloed an aircraft at the age of 14.

Becky attended McAllen High School, where she graduated in 1966 as valedictorian of her class, having also been designated a National Merit Scholar finalist. She attended Sweet Briar College in Virginia, for one year (1966-67). She then transferred to the University of Texas, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in English two years later. She was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha of Texas.

While at the University of Texas she met her future husband, Melvin (Mel) Phillips, Jr. They were married on December 20, 1969 at the First Presbyterian Church of McAllen. While Mel was serving as a Naval Aviator, the couple lived in Milton, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; Corpus Christi, Texas; and Washington, D. C. While her husband was stationed at the Pentagon, Becky was employed by the Washington Law Reporter, a daily legal newspaper. They moved back to Amarillo, Texas in 1972. They also built a home in the Vallecito Valley of Colorado where they spent time skiing, fishing, hiking, picking raspberries, and even harvesting wild mushrooms.

The couple was blessed with three daughters: Abigail, Catherine, and Lauren.

Becky was very engaged in her community, serving on the boards of many charitable organizations, including the Amarillo Art Alliance, the Children's Cottage, and the Academy of the Discovery Center. In addition, she was a member of the Junior League of Amarillo where she helped produce numerous charitable events including the long-running FunFest celebration. She also loved to garden (including cultivating her beloved orchids), attend her book club, cook, and, of course, read during her few spare minutes.

In August of 1989, exactly twenty years after graduating from the University of Texas, Becky enrolled at West Texas A&M University to earn her teaching certificate. She began her new career in education at Horace Mann Middle School in the fall of 1991, and afterwards taught at Caprock High School. In the fall of 1993, she started working at Tacosa High School, teaching 9th and 10th grade English for two years. She then taught the English III Advanced Placement Language and Composition class until her retirement. Becky loved her students and found education to be an intellectually challenging and satisfying career.

After retiring, Becky’s greatest joy was spending time with her family. She and Mel especially enjoyed having their children and grandchildren stay at their ranch outside of Hedley, Texas where they could explore, help with the cattle, and hunt. During the last three years of her life, she lived in Wyoming and Colorado which gave her family the gift of time together and precious memories.

Becky was preceded in death by her husband Melvin Eugene Phillips, Jr., parents Nell Marie McCarter Bentsen and Donald Leroy Bentsen, and her brother Donald Leroy Bentsen, Jr. Becky is survived by her daughter Abigail Elizabeth Phillips Hinga and her husband Sean; daughter Catherine Colbath Phillips Carrico and her husband Kevin; daughter Lauren Rebecca Phillips; her grandchildren James Phillips Hinga, Maeve Bentsen Hinga, Cora Colbath Carrico, and Claire McLean Carrico; sisters Kathleen Nell Bentsen Garfield and Karen Virginia Bentsen and six nieces and nephews; and many beloved Bentsen family cousins.

A funeral service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo on February 28th at 1:00 PM with a reception afterward at the church. A private family burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Amarillo Museum of Art at https://www.amoa.org or mailed to 2200 S. Van Buren Street, Amarillo, TX 79109. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.