Phyllis Nadine Almquist was born January 12, 1922 to Reuben G. and Anna R. "Rozie" (Johnson) Anderson in Stanton, Iowa. She entered into rest on June 21, 2014 at Garden View Care Center in Shenandoah, Iowa at the age of 92.

Phyllis grew up in Stanton, Iowa until the family moved to Essex, Iowa in 1938. In 1939 she graduated from Essex High School. On November 28, 1941 she was united in marriage to Wayne Carl Almquist in Nebraska City, Nebraska.

Phyllis and Wayne were the owner/operators of Almquist Gas Company in Essex, IA. Phyllis also worked for China and Glass Shoppe in Shenandoah, IA.

Phyllis was a very active member of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Essex, IA, Shenandoah Hospital Auxiliary, Tomorrow's Club of Essex and Quilters Guild of Essex. She enjoyed gardening, especially flowers. She was very artistic so she also enjoyed painting, sewing, and quilting. She loved to entertain family and friends.

Preceding Phyllis in death were her husband Wayne Almquist, daughter Rozanne Renander, parents Reuben and Rozie Anderson, step-mother Jean Anderson, sons-in-law Jon Malloy and Craig Hesson, brother Curtis Anderson, brother-in-law Marlyn Lindburg, and sisters-in-law Virginia Anderson and JoAnn Anderson.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters: Judi Malloy of Council Bluffs, IA, and Linda Hesson of Stanton, IA, grandchildren: Angela Albright of Little Rock, AR, Michael (Anastasia) Malloy of Chicago, IL, Gina (Chad) Primmer of Council Bluffs, IA, Deana Renander of Jacksonville, FL, Jennifer (Marat) Leiras of Dubai, UAE, Bradley (Ashley) Hesson of Nebraska City, NE, and Andrew (Beth) Hesson of Lincoln, NE, eight great-grandchildren, son-in-law Dennis (Carol) Renander of Galesburg, IL, sister Elaine Lindburg of Essex, IA, brother Robert Anderson of Essex, IA, sister-in-law Eldora Gowing of Shenandoah, IA, brother-in-law Donavon (Jere) Almquist of Evergreen, CO, other family and friends.