Carolyn Joann Tippey, 80, of Whitewood, SD, died Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at Aspen Grove Assisted Living, Sturgis, SD.

Carolyn Joann Hayes was born August 2, 1942, the oldest of five children, to Joseph and Gladys Hayes. She attended Catholic School in Sturgis until her Junior year. At that time, she left school to marry Lyle Tippey in 1959.

The new family moved to Texas, where Lyle was stationed and where their first son, Michael Gene, was born in 1961. The rest of the family followed with Carol in 1963, Robin in 1965, Ivan in 1969, and, finally, Brenda in 1972.

After returning to South Dakota, they made their home in Whitewood, eventually settled on the home place around 1973. This was her home until 2021 when she moved to Aspen Grove in Sturgis.

After Lyle's death in 2000, Carolyn spent many weekends following the kids to rodeos, traveling to multiple states and, on a couple of occasions, was gone for two weeks at a stretch! She was their biggest fan and was known as "Grandma Tippey" to many, many of those young cowboys and cowgirls. A fond memory is when she taught her oldest granddaughter, Shawna, how to make jam. Camping trips with her grandkids, sitting around the campfire, making and eating s'mores, sleepover weekends, enjoying a good hotdog or a crossword puzzle -she filled all our lives with so many wonderful memories!

She loved being a grandma to her six grandchildren, Shawna (Quade), Stacey, Allen (Whitney), Becky (Brandon), Taya, and Hailey, and a Great Grandma to 8 ½ little ones, Izzy, Zoey, Marshal, Blakesly, Ava, Chance, Emmett, Cash, and (coming in September!) baby Aspine.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Gladys; her husband, Lyle; sons, Michael and Ivan; grandson, Jimmy Lyle; and bother-in-law, Joe Daniels.

She is survived by her children, Carol (Bill) Kluthe, Robin (Patrick) Auer, and Brenda (Sean) McLaughlin; sisters, Marlene (John) Lewton, Darlene Daniels, and Nancy (Steve) Bauer; brother, Bill (Judy) Hayes; six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers gifts may be made to the Mayo Clinic.

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