Wilma M. Tipton passed

away peacefully on

September 10, 2020 to be

embraced in the loving arms

of her Savior. She was born

on April 30, 1936 to Leo

and Vernie Kamp in Laurel,

Montana. Raised on the

family farm near Laurel

with her three sisters and

one brother Wilma attended

local schools. She was the

valedictorian of the Laurel High School

class of 1954.

Working in Billings after high

school and attending Eastern Montana

College she soon met the love of her life,

Vern Tipton. They were introduced by

Vern’s older brother who worked with

Wilma at the time. Vern and Wilma

dated for a time and were soon engaged.

A popular song of the day – “Wake the

Town and Tell the People” was a favorite

Vern (aka Chub) and Wilma enjoyed.

They were married on October 29, 1955.

When Vern graduated from Eastern

they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where

their first child, Michael, was born. The

young family then moved to Dillon,

Montana in 1958. Their second child,

Jo Ellyn, was born in 1963. While living

in Dillon, Wilma was employed at the

Southern Montana Abstract and Title

Company. The two of them made many

life-long friends during their eight-year

stay in Dillon.

In 1966 the family moved to

Auburn, Washington. Wilma continued

to work outside the home, spending the

majority of her working career employed

at the Sprenger Insurance Agency in

Auburn. During those years the family

spent many summer vacations on trips

back to Montana to see family and

friends. Vern and Wilma also enjoyed

boating on the Sound and playing

bridge with friends. They were original

Seahawk season ticket holders in 1976.

In 1979 they moved to a home on

Browns Point, in Tacoma, that enjoyed

a beautiful view of Commencement

Bay. In subsequent years their children’s

families enjoyed many memorable times

there together, watching the

Fourth of July airshows and

spending holidays eating the

wonderful meals Wilma had

prepared – she was a great

cook.

In retirement Wilma and

Vern enjoyed traveling in

their motorhome, vacationing

in Mexico and attending

both Husky and Seahawk

football games. Although

busy in retirement they continued to

make attendance and support of their

grandchildren’s activities a priority.

Wilma loved her family, instilling in

her children the same values she’d come

to know as a hard-working farm girl in

Montana. She cherished her husband

during their 58 years of marriage,

lovingly fulfilling her role as caregiver

during his last months.

Wilma was a member of Messiah

Lutheran Church in Auburn for 54

years. She had a strong faith and a deep

love for the people of Messiah. She

celebrated the baptismal anniversaries

of her children and grandchildren by

baking them their ‘cake of choice’ each

year; eventually baking well over 300

cakes. She enjoyed Bible studies and

frequently went on trips with the Senior

Actioneers group at church.

She was preceded in death by

her parents Leo and Vernie Kamp, her

sister Leona Rood and her husband

Vernon Tipton. She is survived by sisters

Jane Minch (Laurel, Montana), Sharon

Brockway (Wyckoff, New Jersey), her

brother Leo Kamp (Billings, Montana),

son Mike (Patti) Tipton of Chelan,

Washington, daughter Jo (Rod) Menck

of Auburn, Washington, 6 grandchildren

and 8 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held

for the family at Messiah in October.

Interment will be at Tahoma National

Cemetery. Donations may be made to

Messiah Lutheran Church or the charity

of your choice. Wake the Town and Tell

the People, Chub and Willie are together

again!