Ruby Lorraine Jessen Hippen passed away January 17, 2011, in her home in Sturgis, SD, just short of her 75th birthday.

Visitation will be Friday from 2:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 22, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Wesleyan Church with Pastor Harold Delbridge officiating.

She was born on January 30, 1936, the last child of Morris and Ilse Jessen, Danish/German immigrants. She grew up in a large family 18 miles north of Lodgepole, NE, on what was to become a wheat empire. Her parents instilled hard work ethic and a pioneer spirit in their children. Ruby graduated High School in 1954 and met John Hippen, son of a neighbor farmer. They were married in 1955 with a honeymoon in Cuba. They rented most of the home place, some 4,200 acres in wheat to get their start. Her father, who earned the distinction of Wheat King in 1956, branched out with 24 family members owning 28,000 acres in 4 states. That was when John and Ruby made their move to Martin, SD, where the soil was heavy and black. They raised good wheat and later expanded to ranching in Cody, NE.

Ruby's husband, John, was her rock. She shared in all the work and success of their farm and ranch life together. They were married 55 years and together, they raised three children, Tom, Tim, and Cindy, offering guidance and giving unconditional tuff love. Ruby was a dedicated ranch wife who worked hard, side by side her husband and children. She loved her family and delighted in all their activities and achievements. She was secretary of the business and a lot of team ropings. She was a wonderful cook that fed hundreds at brandings and mastered the art of hauling hot meals to the hay field. She loved hosting all the family holiday get-togethers and was an excellent homemaker. She loved a big garden, the pride of canning, and delighted in giving gum-drop cakes to friends at Christmas.

If one could define the duties of a Mother, Ruby didn't get that memo because she had a style all of her own with an open heart and resilient energy. After raising her first family, she didn't blink when she opened her home to help raise two grandkids like her own when the need arose and they are both a wonderful testimonial to her strength of family devotion and loving heart. She welcomed daughter-in-laws into her fold and redefined the meaning of mother-in-law. Her friends were friends for life.

The role she enjoyed most was the role of being a grandmother and great-grandmother. She always made herself available to everyone in her family, wanting to help and lend a hand in any way she could. Although she had a quiet and gentle spirit, she always was noted for her spunk and desire to live life and be a part of all that went on in the family for as long as she was able. She was greatly loved, respected and will be sorely missed.

Ruby is survived by two sisters, Ruth Tipsword of Pinesbluff, WY, and Rose Jessen of Sidney, NE; sons, Tom and wife, Connie, of Hulett, WY, and Tim of Cody, NE; daughter, Cindy of Belle Fourche; grandchildren, Jason Hippen of Hulett, WY, Tyler and wife, Desiree, from Gillette, WY, Dusti Hippen of Roesbud, SD, Morgan Hippen of Newell, SD, and Abby DeRidder of Primghar, IA; four great-grandsons, James West, John Wyatt, Payton Boyd, and Colton Ryon.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, John, by a few short weeks; her parents; brothers, John, Leo, Raymond, and Henry; one son, John, Jr.; and one great-granddaughter, Megan Marie.

A memorial has been established.