She is married and the mother of Robin Thede, a nationally known comedic actress and writer, and two other daughters.

Her family moved there from the Deep South in the Great Migration of the early 20th century.

Her family later moved to Creston, Iowa, in the southern part of the state, where her father worked on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad, which had established a major division center here, with machine shops and roundhouse.

Phyllis attended local schools and started her higher education at Southwestern Community College.

[1] Phyllis Thede has worked in a variety of administrative jobs in the schools, also becoming active in the union.