Thomas "Tom" Kippes

Dates

Obituary

Thomas “Tom” Kippes, 76, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Sunday, October 12, 2025, at his home in Mitchell. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM Tuesday, October 21, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in rural Dimock, SD. Visitation will be Monday from 5-7:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a 6:30 PM prayer service.

A live stream of Tom's Funeral Mass can be viewed at: https://youtube.com/@holyfamily7063?si=aNXqGqMglD6OKPPd

Thomas Robert Kippes was born May 13, 1949, to Robert and Joan (Anfang) Kippes in Mitchell, SD. He attended Mitchell High School and graduated in 1967. After graduation, he moved to Chicago to train Lipizzaner and Haflinger horses, and traveled with his team to the East Coast for the Presidential Inauguration of 1969. Tom attended Woodstock, cleaned and built swimming pools in California, drove semi-trucks, worked in construction, and farmed.

Tom married Elizabeth “Betty” (Neugebauer) Kippes on July 23, 1977, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Alexandria, SD. To their union, three children were born: Toby, Emily, and Robert “Bert”. They owned KIPS Western Drive Inn in Alexandria. In 1988, they moved to Mitchell, where Tom worked maintenance at the Lakeview Golf Course. He then transitioned to overseeing the Cadwell Complex and hockey rink before overseeing all the parks in the City of Mitchell. He developed the soccer fields and the pool at Hitchcock Park. Tom retired in March 2011 after working for the city for 25 years. In retirement, Tom and Betty enjoyed many road trips around the USA. Tom enjoyed spending time with grandkids, making special memories.

Tom was a member of the Mitchell Gun Club. He enjoyed trap shooting, walleye fishing, hunting deer and pheasants, and was an avid MHS Wrestling fan. Tom loved gardening and sunflowers.

Tom is survived by his children, Toby Kippes of Mitchell, Robert (Melissa) Kippes of Parker, SD, and Emily (James) Harvin of Aurora, CO; siblings, Carol Michaels of Victoria, MN, Patty (Tom) Curry of Elk Point, SD, Joe (Barb) Kippes of Mitchell, Kathy (Terry) Haiar of Alexandria, SD, Dotty (Mark) Schroeder of Alexandria, SD, Susie (Denny) Lucibella of Citrus Heights, CA, and Annie (Dan) Dietrich of Edgewater, FL; and dear friend, Jennifer Chance.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; parents, Robert and Joan Kippes; father-in-law, Ralph Neugebauer; brother-in-law, Gregg “Chip” Lee; sister-in-law, Jan Neugebauer; nephews, Ted Curry and Joel Neugebauer; and niece, Karli Dietrich.

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