Alice Hippen

Mundwiler Funeral Home announces the death of Alice Hippen, age 90, of Huntington Beach, CA, formerly of Wilmot and Watertown, SD, who died on October 14, 2017, at Fountain of Life Care Home in Huntington Beach, CA.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at Wilmot Lutheran Church in Wilmot, SD. Rev. Sheila Pohl will officiate, and burial will be at Wilmot Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the service starting at 12:00 p.m. at the church.

Alice Marie Kuper was born on February 27, 1927, in Faulkton, SD, to Joseph and Anna Kuper. She was raised on the family farm near Highmore, SD. Alice grew up having to work the farm and fields while her three brothers were away fighting in WWII. She graduated from Highmore High School in 1941.

Alice began teaching with a teacher’s certificate in a one room school house owned by the Frank Melbourn family. She lived with the family and rode her horse, Prince, to get to the school each day. Alice’s relationship with the Melbourn family continued throughout her lifetime. With their financial assistance, she attended Huron Teacher’s College in Huron, SD.

Upon graduating, she took a position as a teacher in Wilmot, SD, where she met her future husband, Johann Hippen. Alice and Joe were married on July 18, 1948, in Highmore, SD. They continued to live in Wilmot in the home that Joe had personally built for them.

In 1954, Alice was offered a teaching position in Watertown, SD, and taught in the Watertown School District for 20 years. Joe and Alice raised their son, Gregory, and daughter, Patricia, in the Watertown area.

Alice continued her education while working as a teacher. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Dakota State University in 1962. She earned a Master’s Degree in Education from South Dakota State University in 1967.

Joe worked as a construction superintendent on large building projects for Schull Construction Company in Watertown. Joe spent many of his days working outdoors, and in 1973, vowed that it would be their last winter in Dakota. Alice found a new teaching position in 1974 with the Tanque Verde School District in Tucson, AZ. Alice taught Junior High level English and History at Emily Grey Junior High until retiring in 1992. Joe and Alice continued to travel back to the Wilmot area in their motorhome to enjoy the summer months. They owned a lake cabin on Big Stone Lake where they enjoyed visiting family and fishing for perch and walleye.

Joe and Alice enjoyed spending time with many good friends in the Tucson area. Joe passed away in Tucson in September of 1995. Alice continued to make the summer trips to SD, driving her motorhome there, all by herself!

The last three years that Alice resided in Tucson were spent at the Emeritus at Pantano assisted living home. Her 40 year old home was sold to her neighbors, Steve and Teri LaFrance. This wonderful family had always assisted Alice with her home maintenance or with anything she needed. The La Frances would continue to visit her each week at her assisted living home in Tucson.

In 2015, Alice moved to Brookdale Yorba Linda, in Yorba Linda, CA, to be closer to her daughter. She had many friends in her assisted living home, including her little Jack Russell dog, Scooter. Scooter became the ‘mascot’ of both assisted living facilities, where the residents enjoyed seeing him with Alice each day.

Alice spent her final months of life at the Fountain of Life Care Home in Huntington Beach, CA. She was blessed to have loving caregivers, Lydia and Amelia. Lydia was her last best friend.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Johann Hippen; parents: Joseph and Anna Kuper; brothers: Lewis, Clarence, Harold, and Alfred; and sisters: Ethel, Josephine, and Edna.

She is survived by her son, Greg (Marcie) Hippen of Mounds View, MN; daughter, Patty (Daniel) Kleiner of Aliso Viejo, CA; and three granddaughters: Kristen Goettsch of La Habra, CA; Janelle Hippen of Washington DC; and Kelsey Hippen of San Francisco, CA.