Elizabeth died Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Thursday, June 30, at Mitchell Congregational United Church of Christ in Mitchell. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM at the Bittner Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 6:30 PM. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.
Elizabeth “Betty” Joanne Kippes was born August 14, 1951, to Ralph and Ruth (Bartelt) Neugebauer in Parkston, SD. She attended grade school at Worthen No. 1, and graduated from Ethan High School in 1969.
Betty was united in marriage to Tom Kippes on July 23, 1977 in Alexandria.
After high school, Betty attended St. Joseph Hospital for lab technician training. She worked at multiple hospitals and medical offices in Texas and South Dakota. Later, Tom and Betty owned “Kips” Western Drive-In in Alexandria. They then moved to Mitchell where Betty worked at Mitchell Retirement Home and Firesteel Healthcare Center as an Activities Director for many years. In retirement, Tom and Betty enjoyed many road trips together across the United States. Betty cherished spending time with her children and grandchildren whom she loved dearly.
Betty was a committed volunteer with the Mitchell Helping Hands Pantry and Red Hat’ers Club.
Betty is survived by her husband, Tom; sons, Toby (Brooke) of Sioux Falls and Robert (Melissa) Kippes of Parker; daughter, Emily (James) Harvin of Denver, CO; mother, Ruth Neugebauer of Parkston; eight grandchildren and two grand dogs; and siblings, Len (Carol) Neugebauer of Sioux Falls, Julie (Karl) Krueger of Ethan, and Joan Neugebauer of Parkston.
She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph; infant brother, Patrick; nephews, Joel Neugebauer and Ted Curry; niece, Karli Dietrich; parents-in-law, Robert and Joan Kippes; sister-in-law, Jan Neugebauer; and brother-in-law, Chip Lee.