Celebration of Life Service for Phyllis Sanden Nelson, 92, of Surprise, AZ will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at the Grace Lutheran Church, Sisseton, SD with Vicar Pat Schubert officiating. Organist will be Ollie Yost and soloist will be Vicar Pat Schubert. There will be visitation on Friday, August 16, 2024, at the Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton South Dakota from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. Interment will be in the Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, South Dakota. The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD will be in charge of funeral arrangements.

Phyllis was born in Roberts County, South Dakota on December 26,1931 to Selmer and Grace (Hawkenson) Sanden. She was baptized at rural Concordia Lutheran Church and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sisseton, South Dakota. Phyllis graduated from Sisseton High School in 1949. She attended Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, Minneapolis Business College, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prior to her marriage she was employed at General Mills, Inc. in Minneapolis. She married Mervyn Nelson on July 19, 1952, at Grace Lutheran Church, Sisseton, South Dakota. They moved several times because of her husband's career. In Aberdeen, South Dakota Phyllis was employed by St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company. In Rapid City, Edgemont, and Winner South Dakota she was busy raising their three children: Kathryn, Karen, and David. In Madison, South Dakota Phyllis was employed by Lake County Equalization Office, an optometric office, and for eight years was a Division Secretary and Academic Advising Coordinator at Dakota State College. She continued her education and in 1982 received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and was a member of Delta Mu Delta, National Honor Society for Business Administration. After receiving her degree, she was hired as Director of Adult Education and the College Program at Watertown, South Dakota. Prior to her retirement she was Director of Admissions for six years at Buena Vista College in Council Bluff, Iowa. In 1990 she and her husband retired and built a home on Lake Kampeska in Watertown, South Dakota. In 1999 they moved to Surprise, Arizonia. Phyllis loved golf, bridge, water skiing, square dancing, getting together with family and friends. She was a Girl Scout Leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother. She was an active, life-long member of the Lutheran Church. She served many years as a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School organizer and teacher, Bible Camp Counselor, and Co-Leader for Lutheran Young People and was an officer in church women.   At the time of her death, she was a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church and WELCA'S Eve Circle in Sun City West, Arizonia, she also was a member of Community Bible Study for ten years in Sun City West.  Phyllis passed away on August 8, 2024 at Hospice of the Valley, Glendale, AZ.

Beside her husband, she is survived by two daughters Kathryn (Curtis) Roggow of Shawnee, KS; Karen (Arnie) Waddell of Hillsboro, OR; and a daughter-in-law, Patricia Nelson of Yankton, South Dakota. Phyllis is also survived by eight grandchildren: Andrew (Amy) Roggow, Sarah (Matt) Michalak, Anna (Alex) Makin, Trevor (Julie) Schmidt, Troy Krystal) Schmidt Nichole Nelson, Melissa (Josh) Weigel, Ashley (Jerry) McNeary and twenty great grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother:  Paul (Joanne) Sanden of Federal Way, Washington; a sister-in-law Oleta Sanden, Burnsville, MN.

She was preceded in death by her son David and by her parents, Selmer and Grace Sanden; two brothers John and Dale Sanden; her sister-in-law Beverly.

Memorials can be made to Emmanuel Cemetery Fund or Grace Lutheran Church