Obituary: Bippes, Bernece “Bunny”

BIPPES,
Bernece “Bunny”

Passed away February 23, 2012 at Vista, CA, two days after her 94th birthday.

Bernece “Bunny” Bippes was born February 20, 1918 at Pleasant Grove, Utah to Leonard Bryant (LB) and Sylvia (Wadley) Wimmer.

Bernece joined two brothers McKay and Max and was later joined by two sisters, Vivienne and Dawna Rae and another brother Deone.

She grew up during the Depression and often told stories about those desperate times.

She attended schools at Magna, Utah and graduated from Cypress High School in 1936.

She was beautiful and loved to dance.

We have pictures of her in a peach satin gown that she loved when she was queen of the Harvest Ball.
Bernece married Dayton Kennedy in 1940, moved to Polson, MT and had two daughters, Joan and Jerrie.

That marriage could not survive the war and ended in divorce in 1947.
While in Montana, she met Paul Bippes, also divorced, a native of Tekoa, WA with three children of his own (Gene, Joyce, and Donna).

They married in November of 1948 and moved to Tekoa where they lived thereafter.

Paul died in 1989.
Bunny believed in hands-on local service.

She served as PTA president when her children were in school, painted and made draperies for the (then) new Methodist parsonage, and was instrumental in the results of a WSU study in keeping Tekoa a living town: She helped promote building the Tekoa Care Center and the rejuvenation of the annual Slippery Gulch Festival.

She also supported the golf course and spent many years golfing frequently and dining there with friends.
In the 1960’s Bunny became active in Republican politics, ultimately being elected Republican National Committeewoman for the State of Washington.

She was inspired by Ronald Reagan and often said the highlight of her life was attending his inauguration in 1980.

She was re-elected to her position in 1984, and traveled all over the country as National Committeewoman.

After her term was up, she stayed active by holding caucuses in her home.
Bunny was always interested in family and friends and always had time for a visit.

There were frequent trips to children and grandchildren, cousins, and friends ranging from Vermont to California, Boise to Utah.

As it became harder for her to leave home, she welcomed frequent friends to her home or patio.

The friends and family came to enjoy her 5 p.m. wine hour.

Her daughters and nephews helped her learn to use a computer and she loved keeping in touch with emails.
In November of 2011, she traveled to Oceanside, CA, to try living there during the winter.

A fall in December hospitalized her with a concussion.

Survivors include her two daughters, Joan Blumeyer and her husband Max of Oceanside, CA, and Jerrie Kennedy of Kirkland, Washington; stepdaughter Joyce Flanagan (Mrs. Ted) of Burlington, Vermont; 11 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, and great-great- grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her three brothers, two sisters, and stepson Gene Bippes, stepdaughter Donna Burkhardt, and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 29th, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Tekoa Community Church in Tekoa, WA.

Pastor Mark Mewhinney will officiate at the service.

Burial will follow at Goldenrod Cemetery in Tekoa.

Memorial gifts may be given to Tekoa Ambulance Fund, Box 597.

Tekoa, WA, 99033.

KRAMER FUNERAL HOME of Tekoa, WA is handling the arrangements.