Maude C. Hipke

Maude C. Hipke, age 90, of Spencer, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Golden LivingCenter in O'Neill.

Visitation was held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2013, at the Brockhaus Funeral Home in Spencer.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, April 20, 2013, at the United Methodist Church in Spencer with Pastor Inez Foster officiating. Music was provided by organist, Karen Hiatt and congregational singing.

Pallbearers were Jason Hipke, Kyle Hipke, Paul Hipke, Cody Hipke, Joe Schochenmaier and Jon Tikalsky.

Interment was in the National Cemetery in Spencer.

Brockhaus Funeral Home in Spencer was in charge of arrangements.

Maude Carrie was born on Aug. 2, 1922, to Jess and Gaynelle (Starr) Mellor, northeast of Page, at Middlebranch. Growing up Maude lived in northern Holt County and briefly in Cherry County. Like most kids during that time she attended rural schools through eighth grade. It was during this time that the Mellor family lived close to the Hipke family where lifelong friendships and relationships were developed.

She graduated from Stuart High School. While attending high school she got room and board in exchange for doing housework for a family in Stuart and then worked on the family ranch in the summertime. After graduating from high school Maude received her teaching certificate and taught in various rural schools in Holt County.

During WWII Maude took teletype and radio courses and went to Atlanta, GA, where she received her operator's license. When she returned to Nebraska she taught in rural schools in Holt County prior to starting her family.

Maude was united in marriage to Neil E. Hipke on Dec. 5,1948. They worked for ranchers by O'Neill and Springview before starting their cattle herd on rented ranches. They purchased their ranch south of Spencer in 1961.

She was a loving, caring wife, mother and grandmother who always had a big garden, loved flowers and enjoyed numerous crafts including quilting, knitting and cooking. Besides the full time job of being a rancher's wife, Maude was a member of the United Methodist Church in Spencer and was very active in the Phoenix Get Together Extension Club.

Maude is survived by her husband, Neil Hipke; three sons and daughters-in-law: Clint and Mary Hipke of Houston, Texas, Bryan and Tricia Hipke of Spencer and Wesley and Rebecca Hipke of Boise, Idaho; grandchildren: Samantha, Andrea, Bo and Katelyn Hipke of Spencer, Ethan Hipke of Boise, Idaho, Kristen (Kevin) Schorp of New Orleans, LA, and Jason Hipke and Jenna Hipke, both of Houston, Texas; one great-grandchild, Marissa Schorp of New Orleans, LA; three brothers: George Mellor of Spencer, Murray Mellor of Atkinson and Jess Benton Mellor of Valentine.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jess and Gaynelle Mellor; four sisters, Ruth, Helen, Laura and Jennie Beth; and one brother, James.