Phyllis was born September 16, 1940, in Waterloo, IA to Woodrow Wilson and Helen (Higar) Saint. Pyhllis spent her childhood days in Dows, IA. She attended school in Dows and Steamboat Rock and graduated from Steamboat Rock High School in 1959. Phyllis was united in marriage to Norman Hickman on June 12, 1959, at the Ivester Church of the Brethren in rural Grundy county. To this union five children were born; Harlan, Norma, Anita, Teresa and Janine. They raised their family in Conrad. In 1983 they moved to the family farm and returned back to Conrad in 1998. Phyllis was primarily a stay at home wife and mother. She was a member of Blue Star Mothers and spent many hours doing volunteer work at the Iowa Veterans Home. For many years, she took great pride in baking goodie boxes and shipping them to the troops overseas at Christmas time. Phyllis was an outstanding cook and collector of many great recipes. She was known as the casserole queen, and at every family gathering never forgot to bring something made with jello.

Phyllis will be deeply missed by her husband of 55 and a half years, Norm, five children; Harlan Hickman, of Conrad, Norma Powers, of Ottumwa, IA, Anita (Ed) Poland, of Iowa Falls, IA, Teresa (James Dale) Bellus, of Rhodes, IA, Janine (Carey) Nehring, of Newton, IA; thirteen grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren, and a brother, Jim Perry, of Mesa, AZ.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father; and stepfather, Fred Perry; her beloved sister Marilyn and brother-in-law Keith Norris; and half-sister Sherry Karbowsky.