December 11, 2014 at 12:52 p.m.
Lyle Whipps
Lyle Whipps
Lyle was born on June 24, 1930 to Albert and Lenore (Welckle) Whipps. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in LeCenter and attended a LeCenter country school and worked on the farm milking cows, taking care of livestock, and helping with fieldwork. In the eleventh grade, he hired out as a farmhand. From then on, he worked as a farmhand or in various businesses around the LeCenter area until he enlisted with the Armed Services in 1951.
Lyle served with the U.S. Army as a Private First Class in Germany until September of 1953. Lyle also worked as a deck hand on iron ore boats on Lake Superior.
On November 26, 1956, he married Denise Bendzick. They moved to So. St. Paul, and were blessed with three beautiful daughters. In 1957, he began working for Murphy Motor Freight Lines and continued as a Teamster with Union 120 until his retirement in 1987 when Murphy closed its doors. Lyle has proudly displayed his award for his 1 million safe miles on the wall of his home in North Branch. In 1973 Lyle moved his family to a hobby farm in North Branch, then after retirement Lyle bought a small house in town. Over the years, Lyle enjoyed: boating and waterskiing, hunting and fishing with sons-in-law, grandchildren, and friends, country and bluegrass music and performances; doing home improvement projects and woodworking in his workshop. He was always available to help his daughters and his friends with their home improvement projects. Monthly breakfasts with his Teamster buddies were a social highpoint as was coffee at the local café in North Branch with friends.
Lyle was proud of his family. He especially delighted in his grandchildren and their accomplishments. He was known and loved for his drop in visits to his daughters’ homes.
Lyle will be greatly missed by his daughters; Susan (John) Swenson of North Branch, Julie (Jeffrey) Olson of Almelund, and Lisa (Ray) Benolken of Harris; seven grandchildren, Sara (Nate) DePoppe of Shafer, Lisa (Brandon) Cardelli of Sunrise, Jennifer Olson of CA, Jacob Olson of CA, Josephine (Samuel) Sanken of Brownton, Lindsey Benolken of Minneapolis, and Josh Benolken of Harris; great grand-daughter Lillianna Olson, of Almelund; sister Rita Whipps of Waterville; many relatives, loving friends, and his little grand-dog Stella.
He is preceded in death by his parents Albert and Lenore Whipps, brother Roger Whipps, and sister Marjorie Gruetzmacher.
Lyle’s family would like to thank the staff at Ecumen in North Branch, Lakehouse and Sommer Haus, for their exceptional and loving care over the past months. Also, a heartfelt thank you to Lyle’s closest friends for their prayers and faithful visits during these difficult times, and thank you Glenna Darg for your watch in the darkest of nights.
Visitation will be at Grandstrand Funeral Home in North Branch Sunday, December 14 from 4-7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in LeCenter Monday, December 15 at 1 p.m. with Rev. David Aaker officiating. Burial will follow the service at Woodlawn Cemetery in LeCenter.
Arrangements are under the direction of Grandstrand Funeral Home in North Branch. Condolences maybe left at www.grandstrandfh.com.
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