Nelda Yost Tippets

Nelda Yost Tippets passed away February 11, 2015 in Layton, Utah. Born on December 12, 1927, Nelda was the eighth child of Fred Yost and B. Pearl Humphreys. She was born in Bancroft, Idaho where she spent her early years helping her parents, brothers and sisters on the family farm.
She graduated in 1946 from North Gem High School in Bancroft. After high school, Nelda went to Brigham Young University for one year. She then continued her education at Utah State University in Logan, in the fall of 1947. Moving to Logan proved to be the best decision she could have made. Nelda played the French horn in the college marching band. In the band, she met a young trumpet player by the name of Neil J Tippets. By the end of that school year, on June 1st, 1948, they were married in the Logan LDS Temple.
In the spring of 1949, Neil and Nelda took their young family to Afton, Wyoming where Neil taught music in the schools. They were blessed with three children. Julie Ann was born in Utah before they went to Afton. Susan Marie was born in 1952, and Jerry C. in 1954.
As a family, they enjoyed many trips around the western United States. One thing that Nelda always insisted was to visit historical sites such as the Little Big Horn, the site of Custer’s last stand. In a trip to Denver, CO, they visited the Buffalo Bill Cody’s gravesite. She also made sure they stopped at most of the side road historical monuments. Nelda loved the history of the western US, and did her best to instill that love into her family.
Her favorite activity was to read; and westerns were preferred above all others. Neil loved to do outdoor activities such as fishing and camping. She always had a book or two to read while he was out fishing. After Neil passed away in 2006, she savored in the opportunity to read without interruptions.
In the late 1950’s Nelda began a teaching career. She taught Kindergarten in the old Rock Building in Afton, Wyoming two or three years. In 1959 she was able to have her son, Jerry in her Kindergarten class. In 1960 both she and Neil took teaching jobs in Roy, UT, where they stayed for two years.
They moved back to Afton, after the school district there begged Neil to return and teach in the high school again. Nelda began teaching again, and finished her Bachelor’s degree. During that time teachers could teach for a short time while they finished their degree. In Afton, she taught third grade at Afton Elementary. After a few years the district decided to begin an elementary music program. Nelda then taught elementary music for many years, traveling each week to the elementary schools in Star Valley.
Nelda was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While her children were teenagers, both she and Neil served as the presidents of local LDS Church youth organizations. She also served in many other capacities in the Church.
In 1991 her and Neil moved to Logan, UT; a place where they always wanted to retire. Their home became a wonderful gathering place for their children and families. During this time they served a service mission for the Church at the Family History Library in Logan. They also served as workers in the Logan Temple for many of these years.
Nelda is survived by her three children, Julie Hirschi, Susan Call (Tony), and Jerry (Karen); ten grandchildren, and twenty-one great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister ReNae Christensen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Neil, parents and nine brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at Noon (12:00 PM) Tuesday, February 17, in the Allen-Hall Mortuary Chapel. A viewing will precede the service at 10:30 – 11:30 AM. Interment at the Providence Cemetery after the funeral.