Mary Cecelia Tipton, the only child of Ira and Cecelia (Wehrs) Forell, was born on February 28, 1931, in Lincoln, Nebraska, where Ira was serving in the Nebraska Legislature. The family returned to the farm in Thayer County, Nebraska, where Mary has since lived. Mary attended eight grades at District #58, and then attended Chester High School, graduating in 1948. Mary was quite proud of the fact that she attended the alumni banquet for over 65 years, missing only one reunion during that time due to a tornado at son Mark’s farm.

Teaching and the University of Nebraska were two of Mary’s life passions. She attended the University of Nebraska in 1948, stopping to teach 3rd and 4th grades at Republic. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1963, and her Master of Arts Degree in Education in 1984, both from UNL. Mary loved teaching, starting out at Republic, then later at Rosemound near Hardy, then Narka, Belleville, Deshler, Carleton, and finally Chester/Hubbell/Byron. She retired in 1996, and continued doing substitute teaching for eight more years. Even in later years while at the care home, she considered several residents her students.

While teaching in Republic, Mary became acquainted with her future husband, Billy Dean Tipton. They were united in marriage on January 24, 1952, by the Rev. James Gray, Billy Dean’s uncle, at the home of Mary’s parents, near Chester. In May 1952, Billy Dean left for Basic Training in Fort Bliss, Texas, later being transferred to Okinawa, Japan, during the Korean Conflict. Following his homecoming, the Tipton family grew with four sons being born, Michael William, Thomas Lee, Mark Douglas, and Theodore Joseph. During this time, the family lived on Great Grandmother Augusta’s place, just down the road from where Mary had grown up. Following the death of Mary’s parents, and Mike’s marriage, Bill and Mary began extensive renovation of the home Mary grew up in, moving into that house in 1977.

Mary was baptized in the Lutheran Church by her uncle, the Rev. Fred Seesko, in Omaha, Nebraska. Following Bill’s return from the service, they both joined the United Methodist Church in Chester, where Mary remained an active member. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women and Chester Women’s Club. Following Bill’s death in 2001, she joined the Hubbell Women’s Club and the Legacy Community Organization of Chester.

In later retirement, she joined the Heart of the Prairie Quilt Guild in Belleville, and enjoyed trying her hand at quilting, making each grandchild a beautiful quilt for graduation. Mary loved spending time outdoors, and had an immaculate lawn and garden to show for it. She even had an extensive tulip garden for several years, following her trip to Holland.

Mary also loved to travel in retirement, sometimes with friends, and other times on her own. It was only through one of those friends that her family discovered that on one trip in Europe, she missed the time to rejoin the tour group following a sightseeing stop, and had to find her own way back to the hotel. She wasn’t afraid to travel abroad by herself, going all over the United States and Europe, then returning home to make a scrap book of each of her adventures.

Mary left her earthly home on April 28, 2026, at the Blue Valley Lutheran Home in Hebron, Nebraska, at the age of 95 years and 2 months, to join her parents, Ira and Cecelia, and her husband, Billy Dean.

She is survived by her children, Michael and his special friend Diane Smith of Chester, Thomas and his wife Jane of Chester, Mark and his wife Debra of Munden, and Theodore of Lincoln, Neb. Grandchildren; Lauren Mobley and her husband Max, Adam Tipton and his wife Miranda, Colin Tipton and his wife Courtney, Alex Tipton and his wife Sydney, Abby Matthias and her husband Tyce, Christian Tipton and his wife Caroline, seven great-grandchildren, and many friends.

Mary’s greatest joys were her family, her son’s, and grandchildren. While other families encouraged their children to leave the area, Bill and Mary encouraged theirs to stay and improve their communities. Some of her final written wishes included for her children and grandchildren to dedicate their lives to learning and trying to help those around them. Above all, “Live to do the Right Thing. You will be glad you did. Love, Mary”

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 2:00 pm, at the United Methodist Church in Chester, burial will follow at the Chester City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday, May 1, starting at 1:00 pm, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville, where the family will greet friends from 5pm – 7pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the United Methodist Church of Chester, or to Chester Fire and Rescue, or to Thayer County Health Systems, and may be mailed to Price Funeral Home, PO Box 187, Hebron, Nebraska, 68370.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home of Belleville and Price Funeral Home of Hebron are assisting the Tipton family with these arrangements.