Obituary of Elaine Jane Kipp

Elaine was born May 3, 1938 in Aurora, Minnesota to Wayne and Synne Maki, and died April 23, 2016 in Lacey, Washington. She is survived by her children, Thomas Kipp of Seattle, WA and Laurie Kipp (Angela Crosato) of Seattle, WA and New Westminster, BC; her beloved aunt, Shirley Rand of Murdock, MN; her best friend Daphne Koski of Britt, MN; her sisterly cousin, Karen Lewis (Reed) of Moscow, ID; her dear friends, Annita Noah of Lacey, WA, and Dr. Michael Watson of Seattle, WA; nieces, Lisa Karns (Ed), Karen Hagel (daughter, Astrea), and Juliana Hagel (children, Nicole, Christopher, and Sheila); nephews, Peter Kipp (Yeo Ok), David Kipp (Paulissa), Matt Kipp, George Kipp (wife, Juliet; daughter, Fay; son, Pace), and William Kipp; and numerous beloved cousins who grew up with her in Northern Minnesota. Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Henry “Hank” Kipp (6/29/2009); parents, Wayne (12/8/1987) and Synne (9/24/1999); sister-in-law, Catherine Devereux (6/3/2010); brother-in-law, Harold “Dick” Kipp (5/8/2005); and numerous beloved aunts and uncles. She was educated at Aurora High School in Aurora, MN (Class of 1956); the University of Minnesota-Duluth (B.A. in Geography, 1959); and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis (Masters in Library Science, 1961). Born into an extensive, extremely hard working Finnish family on Northern Minnesota’s famed Iron Range, Elaine was an outstanding student, an accomplished musician who played both tenor saxophone and violin, and an alto who sang in both school and church choirs for many years. She was working in her first professional position (Social Science Librarian) at the University of Idaho in Moscow when she met Hank Kipp in a geography course during the fall of 1961. They were married 6/22/1962, in her hometown of Aurora. Following a honeymoon trip to Banff, Alberta, Hank began a 32-year professional forestry career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation (Browning, Montana). Further assignments took them to the Flathead Reservation (Dixon, MT, 1963-68) and to the Rocky Boy’s Reservation (Box Elder, MT, 1968-71). Following a year in Missoula, MT, Hank and Elaine relocated to Havre, MT in August 1972, where Tom and Laurie eventually completed high school. In May 1983, Hank was transferred to the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in Dulce, New Mexico, and in November 1985, he was promoted to his final assignment, at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Hank and Elaine lived in nearby Burke, VA until October 1994, when they retired to Olympia, WA. Elaine interrupted her lengthy and varied career as a librarian on several occasions, due both to the isolated places she and her family often lived, and in order to raise her children. She loved being a librarian, and served as Children’s Librarian at the Fairfax County Public Library in Alexandria, VA (1967-68); Acting Library Director at Northern Montana College (now Montana State University-Northern, in Havre, 1969-70); as Adult Services Librarian at the Missoula City-County Library (1971-72); as Reference Librarian at Northern Montana College (1977-80), and as Periodicals Librarian at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA (1986-94). In addition, she worked for the Hill County Welfare Office in Havre as an Eligibility Technician (1980-83). She was also an avid member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) during her years in Havre (1972-83), and belonged to the American Library Association (ALA), beginning in 1961. During her nine years in Northern Virginia, Elaine became involved in both PFLAG and the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM), to help provide support for members of the gay and lesbian community, for their parents and friends, and in response to the urgent health crisis then affecting millions of Americans. She considered this work her most worthwhile achievement, along with her 47-year marriage and the raising of her children. Elaine read widely throughout her life, and loved solving the most arcane reference questions for professors, students, and the general public. She was also an avid fan of music, with broad and constantly evolving interests and tastes. She loved Classical music from an early age, particularly the works of Jean Sibelius and Aaron Copland, and also numerous popular genres from bluegrass to grunge. Among her many favorite artists were The Kingston Trio, Bill Monroe, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, Nana Mouskouri, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Richard Thompson (whom she saw perform approximately 15 times!), Gram Parsons, Bruce Springsteen, Chris Smither, Leonard Cohen, U2, R.E.M., Paul Westerberg, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam. Elaine was very proud of her Finnish roots, and was a member of the Finnish Heritage Society in Olympia for many years. She also felt a lifelong affinity for Ireland, and particularly for Irish music of every kind. Elaine was unusually capable in matters of organization, planning, finance, and domestic life. She was also an exceptionally caring listener and friend, a trusted confidant and advisor, a prolific correspondent, and a person of unshakeable conviction who believed that the concerns of people matter above all else, and those of family most of all. She loved the sense of adventure that came from traveling throughout the U.S. and the challenge of moving and starting over when the opportunity arose. Elaine was warmly loved and widely admired by friends and family of every age and background, especially by her children, Tom and Laurie, and will be sorely missed by all who knew her. She was a wonderful, kind, caring person every day of her life, and we already miss having her positive influence, subtle humor, and gracious enthusiasm in our lives. She truly lived her Christian beliefs—doing good for others and being a devoted advocate for those in need. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations “In Memory of Elaine Kipp” be made to one or more of the following: PFLAG Olympia: PO Box 12732, Olympia, WA 98508-2732 or www.pflag-olympia.org The Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30309 or www.arthritis.org Safe Place of Olympia, WA, 521 Legion Way SE, Olympia, WA 98501 or www.safeplaceolympia.org The United Churches of Olympia, 110 11th Ave. SE, Olympia, WA 98501 or www.theunitedchurches.org. Please leave memories of Elaine or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.