Lela Alma Emma Weinman was born in Phillips County on September 12, 1926 to Michael M. Weinman and Anna Barbara (Wagner) Weinman and passed away at the Phillips County Retirement Center on April 4, 2016 at the age of 89.

She became a child of God in Holy Baptism on October 10, 1926 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Stuttgart, KS. In 1940 she reaffirmed her faith at her confirmation at Emmanuel. She attended Iowa Union Country School through the 8th grade, grew to adulthood on the farm north of Stuttgart and helped her family on the farm until she was 17 years old. She moved to Phillipsburg and worked at the Ben Franklin store for a couple years before going to work at Lumpkin’s Super in 1945.

On April 2, 1949, Lela married Lindly Lloyd (Sam) Kipp at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. To this union a son, Terry, and two daughters, Mary and Becky, were born. The couple moved to a farm east of Almena in early 1953. Lela was a farm wife and young mother who worked hard raising her family and milking cows along with all the other chores on the farm. The family moved to Phillipsburg about 4 years later and that was their home until they bought a farm northwest of Stuttgart in 1974. Lela went back to work at Lumpkin’s Super in the meat market and worked there for over 40 years total until her retirement in December 1988. She also helped out in the Phillipsburg Locker from time to time. Many people in the community brought laundry and ironing to her as well, which she squeezed into her busy day working and raising a family.

Lela was a member of the Farmingdale Country Club in Almena for a number of years and also a 25+ year member of the Ladies VFW Auxiliary. She gave back to her community by being an on-call blood donor and was called many times late at night to come to the hospital to give blood to someone who had been in an accident. Emmanuel Lutheran Church was her lifetime church except for a few years when she was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg. She enjoyed life on the farm northwest of Stuttgart, especially after she retired. Her most precious memories were made when her grandchildren stayed with Grandma and Grandpa at the farm when they were younger. Special memories included playing in the hayloft in the barn; feeding chickens; riding horses, and family Fun Day in the Fall. Lela loved to tend her flowers, especially peonies, tulips and iris; raise chickens and rabbits; crocheted rag rugs when her eyesight began to fail and she made the best apple pie, egg noodles and fried chicken in the country.

Lela remained on the farm a number of years after Sam’s death, but moved to Westview Homes in Phillipsburg with her beloved dog, Trixie, due to health issues. She enjoyed living there until her health required her to move to the retirement home where she lived the past five years. Lela always wanted to keep busy, so often took other residents coffee in the morning, watered the plants in the common area and helped move tables and prepare for activities. She could be found playing solitaire with her large number cards in the dining area near the entrance to Phillips County Retirement Center and spoke to everyone who came and went. Many tough battles were won by this hard working lady in her lifetime and she will be missed by many who loved her. Preceding her in death were her husband, Sam; her parents; her sisters – Lydia Davis, Lula Patterson, Lucinda Kaiser. Survivors include her son, Terry and Jayne Runnion, Long Island; daughters, Mary and husband, Allan, Phillipsburg and Becky and husband, Alan, Prairie View; brother, Arlynn Weinman; and sister, Linda Zordel and husband, Bob. Six grandchildren: Tina McMannis, Tara Marshall, Christopher Whitney, Staci Manning, Adam Kipp and Jessica Brackney; 12 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and special friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stuttgart, KS, with Pastor Lee Bennight officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie View Cemetery, Prairie View, KS.

Mrs. Kipp will lie in state from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday & Friday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Church or the Phillips County Retirment Center Activities Fund.