Stephanie Wipf, age 46, of Huron, passed away peacefully Thursday, September 3, 2026, under hospice care with her family by her side.

Her funeral service was held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 12, at Mount Olivet Church. Burial was in the Ideal Cemetery. Her service was live-streamed.

Visitation with family present was held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Friday, September 11, at the Mount Olivet Church. A time of sharing was held at 6:30 PM Friday at the church.

Memorials are preferred and will be directed to the children ministry programs that were near and dear to Stephanie’s heart.

Stephanie Marie Wipf was born December 30, 1979 to Mark and Melanie (Decker) Wipf. She joined an older brother, Kyle, and five years later they were joined by a little sister, Brooks.

Stephanie loved Jesus Christ, and said she could not have done life without Him. Growing up, Stephanie was a rule follower, later she realized following Christ was not about keeping rules, it was about a growing relationship with Him. Understanding this changed her life.

Serving the James Valley Christian School elementary as an aid was very important to her. Each year she would explain to the new class who she was and why she was in the wheelchair. These are her words that she shared with the students year after year. “First graders…I have a muscle disease called Muscular Dystrophy. This means the muscles in my body do not work like yours. When I was younger like you, I could run and jump but I was slow. As I got older my legs and arms and all my muscles got weaker until one day I couldn’t walk anymore. And now I have this really cool chair that drives me around everywhere. I have a question for you. Does God make mistakes? Did God make a mistake when he made me? In Psalm 139 it says “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” God did not make a mistake when he created me with MD. He didn’t make a mistake when he gave me brown eyes or big feet. Because God doesn’t make mistakes. How about you? Maybe there’s something you don’t like about yourself. Did God make a mistake with you? Maybe school is hard for you, or you wish you were better at sports. Maybe you don’t like your hair or your dad is upset he doesn’t have any hair. God did not make a mistake when he created you either!! Sometimes we may not understand or like why things are the way they are but we can trust that God has a plan. Do I like that I have MD? Sometimes! I get really good parking spots, concert tickets or sporting events have great wheelchair seating but most of the time I don’t like that I have a muscle disease. I may not completely understand why God created me this way but I know I can trust him and that he doesn’t make mistakes.”This was truly what Stephanie believed. She also volunteered serving theJVC High School as a volunteer Annual Advisor for many years.

She had a heart of ministry to children and young adults. Her love for music and kids drove her to direct many Christmas programs. Sitting at a table in front of the choir of 50+ children, she would direct them using just her wrists and little signs. The kids loved and respected Stephanie and would follow her instructions year after year. Stephanie worked with youth group, but her favorite was teaching Sunday School to the 7th & 8thgrade, and spending Wednesday nights with these kids.

Royal Family Kids Camp was also very dear to her. She has served as treasurer, meal organizer, and any other admin her body would allow her.

Stephanie was an organized, hardworking woman, that always told you the truth; there was no fluff in her opinions. In high school Stephanie had a favorite family to babysit and those kids, now adults have kept their place in her heart. Mason, Kali, and Morgan Kleinsasser, she loved you dearly.After college she began an 18-year career with UBC/TimberRoots, working in Sioux Falls and Huron. Her fellow employees were like family, and she loved them dearly.

Stephanie loved her nieces and nephews dearly: making memories on vacations, playing Settler’s, watching them compete in all their sports, and texting with them were all things she held dear. She loved watching them serve Jesus: quoting sections of Scripture, singing, preaching sermons, and committing to ministry. They made so many memories; they loved her and will miss her deeply.

Traveling was very important to Stephanie and she was the best travel planner around! Had she been healthy, she would have traveled the world, and yet, she traveled more places than a lot of healthy people. Many, many memories were made with her family and her traveling buddies. She was even planning and hoping to get one more family trip in before Jesus called her home.

The family wishes to thank Stephanie’s Personal Caregivers that came in and treated her with care, love, and utmost respect. Her long-term morning caregiver, Phyllis Jones, has served her so faithfully. We thank her.

Stephanie is survived by her parents, siblings, Kyle (Rachel) Wipf, of Newton IA, Brooks (James) Schooley of Bloomfield IA, nieces and nephews, Caleb (Hannah) Wipf, Emma (Cory) McCoy, Charlotte (Brayden) Gibbs, and four great nieces/nephews, all of Newton IA, Nathan Schooley, Clear Lake, IA, and Ella Grace Schooley, Bloomfield, IA, many aunts and uncles.

She is also survived by the Anthony Lind family, her friends who have become family. Anthony and Ronda are just like siblings to Stephanie and their girls, ConLai, Juliana, Vera, and Amiyah, loved their Auntie Steph. She took great joy in spoiling them, attending their events, family game nights, and making each of them know how special they are to her.

Stephanie was preceded in death by her grandparents and several aunts and uncles.