Karen Evonne Sip, 71, Ada, Minnesota, died suddenly from cardiac arrest on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at Sanford Hospital, Fargo, North Dakota.

Karen was born at the Ada Hospital on Tuesday, November 9, 1943. Her parents were Marvin and Elsie Grivno. She had one brother, Bobby Grivno. She graduated from Ada High School in 1961. She was united in marriage to Loyal Sip on September 17, 1966 at Zion Lutheran Church, Ada, Minnesota. They started their life together on their current farm north of Ada.


Karen was a devoted farm wife and mom to four children. She was an avid gardener, loved to read and cook and can the rewards of her garden. She loved family geneology and sharing her finds with her immediate and extended family. She loved to visit and have coffee with her family and friends. You would often find her looking and researching recipes to try for many friend and family gatherings. Karen also loved to sit on her beloved porch and spend time talking to her dogs, Angel and Hunter.

While being a farm wife and mom, she held several secretarial/book keeping jobs in the area and finished her working career by serving 12 years as the Hendrum City Clerk, where she made many dear friends. One of her joys was helping the Hendrum Fire Department with their annual Steak Supper and Fundraiser, she even delegated the last minute collections to her family and her devoted husband this year, while being in the hospital.

Her many joys were her children, her husband, her mom and her 9 grandchildren. She was very devoted in going to their many sporting events and activities. She was a 4-H mentor to her grandchildren teaching them all the tricks of the trade. She also served at the Norman County Fair in the Kitchen as a 4-H alumni where you would always see her beaming smile. Karen was a lifelong member at Zion Lutheran Church, where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She served many years as the President of the ZELW and working many dinners and events.

Karen is survived by her husband, Loyal of Ada, mother, Elsie Starkweather of Ada; one daughter, Heidi (Randy) Lyman, Owatonna, MN; son, Rob (Amy) Sip, Sartell, MN; son, Tony (Lorra) Sip, Ada, MN; Randy (Marti) Sip, Ada, MN; 9 grandchildren – Brandon Lyman; Grant & Lauren Sip; Oliva & Mitchell Sip; Jacob, Karly, Kaleigh & Jaden Sip; one niece, Deb Froirak-Icenogle (Joe), Denver, Colorado; one aunt, Eleanor Cirks, Nevis, MN. She was also preceded in death by her father, Marvin Grivno; stepfather, Robert Starkweather and brother, Bobby Grivno.

Funeral: 10:30AM Friday, April 17, 2015, at Zion Lutheran Church, Ada, MN.

Visitation: 5-7PM Thursday with a 6:30 PM prayer service at Zion Lutheran Church.

Burial: Ada Municipal Cemetery, Ada, MN.