Mae Whyte

Click to view the video tribute for Mae

Mae Rypkema was born September 15, 1922 to Reimer and Dena Rypkema. She graduated from Hinckley (MN) High School in 1939, followed by a year of Normal School teacher's training. She taught country school southwest of Hinckley. Mae married Bob Whyte (her high school sweet heart) on May 26, 1944. They lived their entire married life on Lone Pine Road, east of Hinckley. They were blessed with three children, Carol Rae, Dave and Bev.
Important things in Mae's life were her faith in Jesus Christ and her family. Her gift of hospitality was evidenced by her unique ability to put people at ease in her home. Her fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and homemade buns were rivaled by none. She enjoyed flowers and her clematis were the envy of many friends and family.
Mae taught Sunday School and release time classes, and she lead the singing in Sunday School. Both Bob and Mae were committed to the ministry of Grindstone Lake Bible Camp. Both also loved quartet music.
As a homemaker, mom and wife, she would prepare the evening meal, put on a clean dress, comb her hair and sit down and play the piano until Bob arrived home for supper, often she played "Near to the Heart of God". As family sang to her in the hospital, she would often mouth the words. After singing "Near to the Heart of God", she whispered, "That's one of my favorites".
After Bob died in October of 2002, Mae lived in Park Forest Estates in Mora, MN. In June of 2006, she moved to Pioneer House in Fargo, ND, to be closer to her girls.
Mae died in a Fargo hospital on Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, at the age of 86. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Raymond. She is survived by her three children, Carol Rae (Jim) Johnson, Pelican Rapids, MN, Dave (Lynn) Whyte, Mora, MN
Visitation (Moorhead): Monday, 5:30 PM to 7 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead, MN.

Funeral: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at 2 PM in Hinckley (MN) Evangelical Free Church.