Phillip M. Mcmahan

Phillip “Phil” M. McMahan passed away at his home in Moorhead, Minnesota on February 8, 2023.

Phil was born on June 26, 1961 to Lt. Col. Richard and Delores (Ellenson) McMahan at Fort Benning, Georgia. The youngest of seven children, Phil and his siblings lived in several places across the country and in Germany during their father’s service in the U.S. Army. They returned to Minnesota permanently in 1970, settling in north Moorhead. The family moved to Hawley in 1973, where Phil attended junior high and high school. Phil graduated from Hawley High School in 1980 but is considered by the class of ’79 as one of their own.

Phil had two sons, Ian Charles McMahan of Moorhead, MN and Sean Patrick McMahan of Fremont, California.

Phil received a Bachelor of Science degree from Moorhead State University in 2012. He had a passion for helping those with addiction and mental health issues. He worked as a chemical dependency technician and youth worker for several rehabilitation centers in the Fargo Moorhead area, including Anchorage, Centre, and the Fargo Youth Commission. He worked for several years at Mid-States Truss company, where he leaves behind many friends.

Phil was a great cook and a talented baker, delighting those lucky enough to enjoy his homemade cheesecakes. He enjoyed hunting, reading, anime, genealogy, and was cultivating a growing devotion to Buddhism.

Phil is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sons, siblings Susan, Rick (Carol), Michael, Patricia Solum, and Jane Havig (Dana Negard), his nieces Jennifer McMahan (Spencer Lamoreaux), Amanda VanBeek (Matthew), and Ashley Solum (Lindsey Sims), great nephews and nieces Landon and Evan Weinfeld, and Lily, Emma and Annie VanBeek, and many friends.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 15, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., followed by the memorial service at 2:00 p.m., at Wright Funeral Home in Moorhead.