Barbara Kipp

Barbara A. Kipp February 2, 1942 – April 8, 2023
Shortly before sunrise on April 8, 2023 Barbara Ann Kipp passed away at home in Billings, Montana She had just celebrated her 81st birthday at a restaurant with her husband Bill Kipp. To most appearances she was full of health and energy. The next two weeks were normal. Neither Barb nor her husband realized at that time what the next four weeks would bring. Two hospital stays, two CT scans, two MRI scans, numerous blood draws, biopsies, and other tests revealed that Barb was in stage 4 endometrial cancer. Barb and her family decided that hospice care at home was the proper move.
She was born to Harold Louis Six and Mary Rosella Devarose Six in a country home near Morgan County, Illinois. Her birthday was on Ground Hog Day, February 2, 1942 – eight weeks after the USA entered World War II. (Barb enjoyed telling people that she was born on "2/2/1942"). She was the third of six children born into the family. The fourth child, Alice, was born two years later. Alice and Barb had an especially close relationship for the rest of Barb's life. Both became believers and followers of Jesus Christ in their early lives, both of their spouses later became Christian ministers.
After graduating from Moline Illinois High School Barb made a decision to attend a Bible college in Minneapolis, Minnesota. That summer Barb met Bill at a church camp but for various reasons she was not impressed with him. Her attitude began to change three months later while both were attending the same Bible college. Two years later her sister Alice would also attend that school. Barb took her Bible studies seriously, growing in her faith. Barb received a degree after two years of school and made herself available as a deaconess at age 21, which the denomination approved. She travelled that summer to the Ozark hills in Arkansas-Oklahoma where she walked those miles, ministering in homes and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. After one year she returned to Minneapolis and continued dating Bill. Her hair had become a sun-bleached reddish brown from her exposure to the sun. Bill Kipp and Barbara Six were married in Minneapolis on July 31, 1965 and – yes, her sister was her matron of honor. From this marriage God has blessed them with five children – William, Timothy, Stephanie, Matthew, and Benjamin.
Barb's interests included sewing, crocheting, quilting, embroidering, baking, playing Parcheesi, reading, singing, praying from her heart to the Lord. Her favorite Bible passage was Proverbs 3:5-6. She loved many people, listening to them and counseling. as well as teaching Sunday School. She will be missed by many of us, but we also rejoice with her because she is now present with the Lord, awaiting the glorification of her body.
Cremation has taken place and the memorial service will be held at First Alliance Church located at 1835 Central Avenue in Billings, Montana. Service time is May 6, 2023 at 3:00 pm.