Joyce Dolores (Haveman) Rip, age 90, was called home to be with her Lord on June 18 at her home at Regency in Oak Harbor. She was born Feb. 5, 1927, in Lynden, Wash., to John T. and Elsie (Bovendam) Haveman and was the seventh of nine children. She attended Lynden public schools, graduating from Lynden High School in 1945. At that time, she was employed at Peoples State Bank, and later worked in the office of Dr. Roy Averill.
On April 1, 1949, Joyce was married to Lawrence (“Laurie”) Rip in Lynden, and they made their home in Oak Harbor. There she was employed at Everett Trust &Savings Bank on Naval Air Station Whidbey and subsequently in the office of Dr. Mark Gabrielson.
In 1956, Joyce and Laurie purchased his brother Jake’s dairy farm on Monroe Landing Road, where they raised their two children. Joyce enjoyed being an at-home mom and farm wife for over 20 years. When her children were older, she again joined the work force at Olympic Bank, retiring in 1991.
Joyce was a devoted member of the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church, where she taught Sunday School for 16 years and helped establish the church’s Calvinette (now GEMS) program for young girls. She was a leader in Coffee Break Bible Study, a member of the ladies’ Mission Circle and volunteered as church bulletin secretary for 20 years.
Joyce was also an active supporter of the Oak Harbor Christian School. Joyce and Laurie were dedicated foster parents, serving as the Interim Foster Home for Island County. They assisted 60 foster children between 1964 and 1970.
Joyce enjoyed traveling, and she and Laurie visited Europe several times, as well as toured Africa and Australia. Special memories were made when they took their entire family on two trips to Hawaii and two ocean cruises.
Joyce was skilled in various forms of handwork, including embroidery, knitting and crocheting, and she especially enjoyed the lost art of tatting (lace-making). She won several ribbons at the Island County Fair for her work, and in her nine years at Regency, she presented each new lady resident with a tatted hankie on her first birthday there.
She was also an accomplished quilter and donated dozens of baby quilts to the Pregnancy Care Clinic.
The absolute greatest joy of her life was her family – her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Joyce is survived by her two children, Launa Riepma with husband Leroy and Jeffrey Rip with wife Rose, all of Oak Harbor; six grandchildren, Leanne (Sean) Dubiel, Kelly Riepma, Jeremy (Kali) Rip, Cassandra (Mark) Karjalainen, Chad (Carrie) Riepma and Kyle (Shannon) Rip; and 12 great-grandchildren, Haley and Brenna Sherman, Celbie, Tessie, Ellie and Grace Karjalainen, Sadie and Josie Riepma and Emmett, Harper, Dawson and Anika Rip.
She is also survived by her two brothers, Howard and Norman (Gerry) Haveman. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lawrence (2008), her five sisters, Waan Diena Hulst, Gertrude Rinehart, Theadoris Nieuwsma, Elsie Mae Haveman and Goldie Leenders, as well as by brother John “Budd” Haveman and one nephew.
Visitation for Joyce will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at Wallin Funeral Home. Memorial services are set for 2 p.m. Friday, June 30, at the Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Randy Beumer officiating.
Services were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home. To share messages or condolences, please visit Joyce’s Book of Memories page on the funeral home website at www.wallinfuneralhome.com
Memorials can be made to the Pregnancy Care Clinic. The family wishes to express special thanks to the staff of Regency and WhidbeyHealth Hospice for their loving care and compassionate support.
