Leota S Tripp

Leota S. Tripp passed away on March 23, 2015, of natural causes, just a few weeks shy of her 99th birthday.
Leota was born April 18, 1916, in Des Moines, Iowa. She married Charley Tripp on February 6, 1937. They had four sons—Willis, Lyle, Darvel, and Dan. The family lived in Deer River, Minnesota, until moving to Missoula to make their home in 1949. Leota and Charley moved back to Wirt, Minnesota, in 1977 for 14 years before returning to Missoula to be closer to family. After raising four sons she was blessed to have three generations of granddaughters born on her birthday.
Leota spent many years raising her family sometimes with very little to keep things going. She was very frugal and could stretch a dollar further than anyone! She adored children and babysat at home for several years. Her love of knitting gave her the opportunity to make many Christmas stockings, slippers, and afghans for everyone. Leota worked at the bakery at SuperSave grocery store, where she learned to decorate cakes. She baked cookies for her friends and family including her famous molasses cookies and peanut butter bars. As much as she loved baking, she also enjoyed gardening, which kept her busy all summer. She could grow the biggest and prettiest geraniums and pansies. She found great joy feeding and watching the birds, especially humming birds. Her and Charley also enjoyed camping and fishing and spent many weekends at Lake Placid and Salmon Lake.
Perhaps one of her greatest joys was playing cards, particularly cribbage. Whenever you stopped by to visit her, the cards were ready. She played up to the very end and was more than likely to beat you. In the unlikely event she didn't win, you could count on her to exclaim "Oh sugar!". She was fiercely competitive, but always gracious!
Leota was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charley, son Willis, and grandson Michael. She is survived by sons Lyle (Dorothy), Darvel (Mary), Dan (Carol), and daughter-in-law Peggy; 17 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren, and 7 great-great grandchildren, one sister, and dozens of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Services will be held Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the Garden City Funeral Home, at 2:00 p.m. followed by a reception. Please visit and sign her guestbook at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com


Read Leota Tripp's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.