Rebecca Joy Phipps

Rebecca Phipps, 60, of Cherokee, Iowa passed away on October 1, 2013, at Midwest Regional Medical Center in Zion, Illinois. Rebecca was born to Reverend John and Florence (Frost) Kronlokken on September 21, 1953 in Mayville, North Dakota, the fifth of eight children. After high school, she attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and received a Bachelor's degree in education. She was married to David Dean Phipps of Cherokee on June 12, 1976. Rebecca taught several grades during her 36-year tenure in the Cherokee School District. The majority of her time was spent teaching fifth grade science, though she also taught English and Math. She was well known for her hands-on teaching style, including building simple machines with Leggos, studying aerodynamics with paper airplane contests, and telling constellations myths in StarLab. Rebecca also enjoyed drawing, creating jewelry, knitting, reading, volunteering at the Sanford Museum, teaching Sunday school, traveling to her family's cabin on Kabekona Lake in Minnesota, and spending time with her granddaughter. Rebecca is survived by her husband, David Phipps of Cherokee, IA; her son, Andrew Phipps of Omaha, NE; her daughter Susannah (and Marcus) Matousek of Omaha, NE; and her granddaughter, Abigail Matousek, as well as six siblings and many nephews and nieces. Rebecca was preceded in death by her parents, Reverend John and Florence (Frost) Kronlokken, and sister, Susan (Kronlokken) Bega. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Rebecca's honor may be sent to the Sanford Museum, 117 East Willow St, Cherokee, IA 51012. Donations will be used to help fund the replacement of the museum's planetarium projector.

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