Memorial services for Phyllis B. Cogswell, 96, long time Aberdeen, SD resident, will be 1:00pm, Saturday, October 9, 2021, at First Presbyterian Church, with Pastor Ruth Clendenin officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Phyllis died Thursday, July 8, 2021, following a long, determined and faithful life. Phyllis was born May 5, 1925, to Fred and Sarah (Baker) Anderson of rural Wolsey, SD, the youngest of four daughters. She attended school in Wolsey, graduating from Wolsey High School as the Class of 1943 valedictorian. She attended Huron College with the goal of becoming a teacher. With the aid of scholarships, she worked tirelessly to earn enough to cover her tuition and expenses – giving piano lessons, babysitting and cleaning homes, and working for the Grasshopper Control Board. She was recognized in Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges in both her junior and senior years and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She married Mark Cogswell three days after her graduation on June 13, 1947. The young couple moved to Brookings where Phyllis taught eighth grade English, then Bonilla and Wolsey before moving to Aberdeen in 1956. Phyllis gave private piano lessons while raising her young children, Brenda and Kurt. She maintained her private piano class until 2000, introducing numerous students to the joy of music through piano. She also shared her appreciation of music with countless students as the elementary music teacher for Aberdeen elementary schools from 1965 to 1967. She received her Master’s Degree from Northern State College in 1970. In 1968 she began teaching 9th grade English at Simmons Junior High, where she remained until her retirement in 1988. Phyllis served as an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Aberdeen, was active in the Presbyterian Women’s group, sang in the church choir for many years and supported church missions in numerous ways. She was a member of PEO for over 50 years, holding various leadership positions. In retirement she became an active volunteer in St. Luke’s Midland Hospital Auxiliary, heading many committees over the years. In 1993 she co-chaired a fundraising event to purchase a mammography unit for the hospital. In 1992 her service and achievements were recognized by Beta Sigma Phi when she was named First Lady of Aberdeen. Phyllis is survived by her daughter Brenda Cogswell Zimny, son and daughter-in-law Kurt and Mary (Fritz) Cogswell, grandchildren Aaron (Jennifer) Zimny, Sarah (Peter Kovacs) Zimny and Evan Zimny, nieces Cheryl (Scheibe) Krutzfelt and Wava (Christopherson) Arth, and great grandchildren Charlotte and Alice Zimny and Miles Kovac. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Joyce Christopherson, Faye Nettinga and Jackie (Beryl) Scheibe and their husbands Tim Christopherson, Renus Nettinga and Milburn Scheibe, sister-in law Maxine (Cogswell) Becker and her husband Ben Becker, nephews Edwin, Burle, Randy and Noel Christopherson and Harlan Scheibe, and son-in-law Raymond Zimny.