Phyllis A. Vest

Phyllis A. Vest, age 96, spent her life in and around Eden Prairie, watching it grow from a rural farming town into the suburb it is today.

She was born to Harry and Evelyn Rogers, who operated one of several farms within the city limits. Phyllis attended Eden Prairie Elementary School and then St. Mary’s Catholic School in Shakopee. She graduated as valedictorian of the Eden Prairie High School Class of 1946.

She went on to study at the College of Medical Technology. Phyllis married her high school sweetheart, Richard Hays, and together they had a daughter, Nancy. After Richard died of cancer, she later married Henry Kopesky Jr., with whom she had two sons, Kevin and Mark. She was widowed again following Henry’s death in a car accident.

Phyllis later married Neill Vest, her longest marriage, and gained meaningful relationships with Neill and Glendora Vest’s three children: Debra, Nancy and Mitchell.

Phyllis was a proud employee of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, retiring in 1992. While her children were young, she served as a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout den mother. She was also a district representative for the American Field Service, coordinating placements for international exchange students, and was active in numerous youth activities, both individually and as part of local groups.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her three husbands and her parents.

She is survived by her children, Nancy Nicklay (Allen) of Eden Prairie, Kevin Kopesky (Tammy) of Cedar Rapids, and Mark Kopesky (Joan) of Minneapolis; and by Neill’s children, Debra Vest (Tim Holte) of Milwaukee, Nancy Vest (Terry Eggan) of Eden Prairie, and Mitchell Vest (Janel Welck-Vest) of Fort Valley, Georgia.

She is also survived by her grandchildren: Aaron, Brent, Jennifer, Henry, Claire, Jackson, Sarah and Allison; along with numerous nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren and godchildren.

A Celebration of Life for Phyllis will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., followed by Mass at 11. A luncheon will follow at the church, with interment at Eden Prairie Cemetery.

A livestream of the service will be available on Pax Christi website.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family encourages contributions to health- or youth-related charities of the donor’s choice.