Phyllis Cooksey Memorial Scholarship

The Phyllis Cooksey Memorial scholarship is a new 2019 scholarship offering. Phyllis was a nurse in the Army Nurse Corp during WWII and taught maternity classes at North Memorial and Maternity Hospitals. Phyllis was passionate about women’s health and education.
Phyllis Cooksey, age 95, passed away peacefully Monday, September 3, 2018 at Diamond Willow in Baxter, Minnesota. Phil was born August 2, 1923 in Windom, Minnesota to Ernie and Reta Vieregge. After graduating from high school in Windom, Minnesota Phil attended Community College and the Kahler School of Nursing. After receiving her RN Degree, she trained at the Cleveland Clinic before enlisting in the Army Nurse Corps. While serving during World War II she met William Cooksey in the Philippines and they married in 1947.
They made their home in St. Louis Park for more than thirty years and after receiving her public health degree from the University of Minnesota she began working for Planned Parenthood of Minnesota in 1961. She started as a public health outreach nurse and ended it as the Director of Education and Training. Phil taught the first expectant parent classes at a Minneapolis Hospital, supervised the state’s first organized training program for family planning, and designed the first and only OB-GYN Nurse Practitioner training program in Minnesota.
She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy (Gary) Nault, Nisswa, MN; Janet (Jeff) Horn, Baxter, MN; Matt Macheledt, New Richmond, WI; four grandchildren, Amy (Ted) Halbur, Ali (John) Meyer, Korey (Karly) Horn, Kaitlyn Macheledt; five step-grandchildren, Andrea (Steve) Vidano, Jeremy (Sam) Horn, Chandler (Brooke) Nault, Chase Nault, Chapin Nault; five great grandchildren; William, Lucas, Maxwell Halbur, Isabella Horn, Jack Meyer and five step great-grandchildren Drew, Gabi, Sophia Vidano, Zach and Avery Horn, and Henley Nault plus many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, William, and daughter Sue Macheledt.
Phil was a wonderful, active and family-oriented lady. She was always there for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.