MaryAnn Vipond

Funeral services for MaryAnn Vipond, of Norcross, Minnesota, will be held on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Gall’s Catholic Church in Tintah, Minnesota.  Celebrants for the service will be Father Jeremy Ploof and Father David Blume.  Visitation will be on Tuesday at St. Charles Catholic church in Herman, Minnesota from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery, near Herman.

MaryAnn (Kopel) Vipond, daughter of Leo and Anna (Neuroth) Kopel, was born on August 19, 1929 in Donnelly Township, the youngest of ten children.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. Theresia’s Catholic Church in Donnelly, MN.  MaryAnn attended country school and graduated from Alberta High School in 1946.  She was united in marriage to Stanley Vipond on October 12, 1949 at St. Theresia’s Catholic Church in Donnelly, MN.  To this union ten children were born.  Following their marriage, the couple made their home in Herman.  In 1962 they moved to their farm near Norcross where the family operations continue today with her sons and grandsons.  (These guys were the lucky recipients of MaryAnn’s wonderful cooking for many years!  Her advice to anyone wanting to know how to cook was, “you can never go wrong with more cream and butter.”)

MaryAnn’s first job out of high school was with Northwestern Bell in Morris.   She would eventually achieve the title of Domestic Engineer for Vipond Farms.  MaryAnn was a long-time active member of St. Charles Church in Herman, MN where one of her many roles was an outreach minister to the sick and homebound.  Many visits were made to people where they were treated with homemade bread and other goodies.  Her dedication and zest for life included faith, family and friends which brought her much joy.  This was witnessed by her warm hospitality, especially during happy hour.  She was very quick to open her home to friends, family or a stranger for a delicious meal, a game of Shanghai or socialization.  MaryAnn loved a good auction.  She was known to stand on top of tables while bidding so everyone new she was serious and going to have the final bid.   She had a desire to see the world and was very lucky to have traveled many places with family and friends.

MaryAnn died peacefully on Saturday, July 24, 2021, ten years to the day of the passing of her husband Stanley.    MaryAnn was 91 years old.

She is survived by: six sons, Terry (Kathy) Vipond, Norcross; Larry (Annegine) Vipond, Herman; David (Pam) Vipond, Mahnomen, Joe Vipond, Morris; Tim (Janelle) Vipond, Wendell; and Mark (Ann) Vipond, Norcross; four daughters, Ginny (Larry) Heintzelman, Chokio; Robin (Jeff) Tanner, Atwater; Colleen Brakke, Pelican Rapids;  and Joan (Paul) Kirkeide, Herman; Sisters-in-law Lou Kopel, Donnelly, Janet Vipond, Barrett; June Vipond, Alexandria, Sharon Vipond, Battle Lake; brother-in-law Denny (Faye) Vipond, Herman, 26 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Stan; two grandchildren Nicole and Brandon Kirkeide, her parents, and brothers: Lawrence, Walter, Joe, Eddie, and sisters: Rita Schultz, Betty Riley, Helen Kopel, Edna Marty, Rose Marie Sprouls.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIALS PREFERRED TO ST. CHARLES CAHOLIC CHURCH OR THE GRANT COUNTY FAIR.

In lieu of sending individual thank you cards, we would like to take this opportunity to say a very heartfelt Thank You to everyone for your many acts of kindness and support during this difficult time.  The family will be making a donation to St. Charles Catholic Church and the Grant County Fair in MaryAnn’s name.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.