Rita Victoria Lipps, daughter of Victor and Margaret (Petersen) Williams was born in Omaha, Nebraska on January 25, 1928. Rita passed away March 15, 2014 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha surrounded by her family.

Rita's family moved from Benson to a farm along the Missouri river east of Herman, Nebraska in 1932. Rita attended Kindred Rural Grade School in Washington County and Herman High School for her freshman and sophomore years. Rita moved with her family to Los Angeles, California in 1943. She graduated from John H. Frances Polytechnic High School in 1945. The family moved back to Herman in 1945 and she attended Dana College in Blair, earning an elementary teaching degree. She taught fifth and sixth grade in Decatur, Nebraska for six years.

Rita and Wayne Lipps were married in 1953. They lived on a farm northeast of Tekamah for 36 years. Her son Thomas Wayne Lipps was born in 1954 and their daughter Jann Elizabeth Lipps was born in 1957. Rita was baptized, confirmed and married in the First Lutheran Church in Blair, Nebraska. She joined Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Tekamah in 1954.

Rita did some substitute teaching in Tekamah and besides farming, Rita owned and operated Summer Kitchen Antiques in Tekamah for many years.

Rita was a 4-H leader, Cub Scout den mother and served on the Burt County Extension Council. She was active in the Democratic Party and was a delegate to the State Central Committee for several years. Governor Ben Nelson appointed Rita to the Sixth District Judicial Nominating Commission and she served for eight years. She served on the Burt County Museum Board.

Rita and Wayne enjoyed traveling to many parts of the United States and Canada plus Europe and Asia with their daughter Jann. Rita attended several Elder Hostels all over the country. She especially enjoyed visiting New England and finding ancestors' graves. She was a member of the Mayflower Society of America and served on the Nebraska Board of Assistants. She was also a member of the Alden Kindred Society and the Daughters of American Revolution.

Rita and Wayne spent many winters in Lake Havasu City, Arizona and enjoyed their winter golf.

Their grandchildren Kirsten and Samuel Lipps were a huge source of pleasure. Rita and Wayne gave up their Arizona winters for an apartment in Algona, Iowa for six years so they could attend the school and sporting events of their grandchildren and become more involved in their lives. Rita was looking forward to the wedding of her granddaughter Kirsten Lipps to Grant Person.

Rita enjoyed scrapbooking, her book club, the quilting group and spent a lot of time with friends on the golf course. She also enjoyed walking and exercise.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, and her sisters Dorothy Yowell and Joyce Peck. Rita is survived by her husband Wayne of Tekamah; son Thomas Lipps and daughter-in-law Jayne of Algona, Iowa; daughter Jann Lipps of Boulder, Colorado; granddaughter, Kirsten Lipps of Kearney, Nebraska; grandson, Samuel Lipps of Storm Lake, Iowa; her sister Betty Lane of California; sister-in-law Ione Lipps of Tekamah; and several nieces and nephews.

MEMORIAL SERVICE Thursday, March 20, 2014, 10:30am at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tekamah with Rev. Clay Skurdahl officiating. Organist: Linda Rogers.

MEMORIAL VISITATION Thursday, March 20, one hour prior to service at the church. Burial, Private Family, Tekamah Cemetery. Memorials to the family with memorials to be directed at a later date. PELAN FUNERAL SERVICES Tekamah, NE 402-374-1551

www.pelanfuneralservices.com

Published in Omaha World-Herald on Mar. 18, 2014