LINCOLN – Leola M. (Jipson) Tibbetts, 78, wife of the late Benjamin Tibbetts, passed away peacefully May 3, 2006, at the Lincoln hospital surrounded by the family she loved so much and members of her church family. She was born Jan. 13, 1928, in Lincoln, the daughter of the late Claude and Beatrice Jipson. Leola and her late husband, Benjamin, started a business in the early years of their marriage. Working side by side they built Tibbetts Building and Fuel up into a thriving business, retiring January 2000. She was a charter member of the Full Gospel Tabernacle, with 50 years of teaching Sunday school classes, 36 years as the Sunday school superintendent, pianist, youth leader, daily vacation Bible school and involvement with the summer event of Camp Can Do from the beginning until the present. In addition to her parents and her husband of 57 years, Benjamin Tibbetts Sr.; she was predeceased by a son, Benjamin Tibbetts Jr.; brother and sister-in-law, Claude and Dallas Jipson; and brother-in-law, Lyndon Fogg. Surviving are daughters, Esther Ring and her husband, Charles, Joan Mulligan and her husband, W. Terry; daughter-in-law, Carol (Tibbetts) Jipson and husband, Wallace; grandchildren, Curt Ring, Kendall Ring and wife, Dawn, Eric Ring and wife, Julie, Rachel Hanscom and husband, Jimmy, Jared and Matthew Mulligan, Benjamin Tibbetts III, Kari Clark and husband, Scott, Martin Tibbetts, and wife, Jen, and Kristy Langley and husband, Patrick; 18 great-grandchildren, with another one expected next January; nieces and nephews, three sisters, Priscilla Hinrichs, Barbara Fogg, Donna Avery and husband, Seth; and brother, Douglas and Christine. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her. Friends and family may call 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, May 5, at the Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Rd., Lincoln. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Full Gospel Tabernacle, 14-20 Fleming St., Lincoln. Officiating will be her pastor, the Rev. Jack Stewart and brother-in-law, the Rev. Seth Avery, with songs by The Stewarts Southern Gospel Group. Interment will be in the Lincoln Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Full Gospel Tabernacle to be used to support Camp Can Do. Donations may be left at the funeral home. For an online register book, please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com.
LEOLA M. TIBBETTS
