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Ione "Tootie"
Piper • 1925 - 2006 Ione Josephine Gotzian was born on June 16, 1925, the daughter of Harry and Tressa (Mason) Gotzian in Grand Forks, ND. She was raised and educated in Grand Forks, and graduated from Grand Forks Central High School in 1943. After high school she and her sisters cared for their ailing mother at home. She spent one year in Chicago, IL, working for the federal government during World War II. She married Harold G. Piper on June 3, 1950, in Grand Forks and they made their home in Minot. In 1953, they moved to Garrison where Harold was with the International Harvester Implement company and she stayed home to raise their two children, Julie and Steve. They moved back to Minot in 1960, when Harold became a loan officer at what was then Minot Federal Savings and Loan. She was the definitive volunteer. Some of her involvements were with the Girl Scouts where she served as a neighborhood chairman, the Boy Scouts as a den mother, the Trinity Auxiliary, the Minot Vocational Adjustment Workshop, the Presbyterian women where she worked with the bazaar and the committees. She volunteered for Easter Seals' "I'm Thumbody" program, Meals on Wheels, and helped at the Minot Public Library and the Taube Art Museum. She belonged to the Minot Country Club Women's Association, the Minot Indoor Tennis Club and the Federated Women's Club (Coterie) where she held the offices of president, secretary and treasurer. She served on the board of the Patrons of the Minot Public Library, the YWCA and the Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee. She belonged to various bridge clubs around Minot. She and Harold spent winters in Palm Desert, California, and enjoyed many cruises. They traveled extensively with Harold's involvement in the Elks and Rotary organizations. She completed a 12,000 piece jig-saw puzzle; it was mounted and takes up an entire wall in their basement. She lived life large; there was never a lack of conversation when Tootie was around. Her loving family includes: husband of 56 years, Harold, Minot; children, Julie (Mark) Adams, Lansford, ND, and Steve (Tracy) Piper, Palm Springs, CA; grandchildren, Charles (Carrie) Adams, Tressa (Chip) Sjule; and Grace and Stephanie Piper; sister, Jean Peskey, Mesa, AZ; and several nieces. Ione was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Henry Gotzian; and sister, Lucille Fodness. Funeral: Wednesday, September 13, 2006, at 10:30 a.m.
at First Presbyterian Church, Minot. Officiant: Reverend Dr. Bob Edwards Music: Congregational Hymns Honorary Bearers: Tootie's family and friends Active Bearers: Tom Steenstrup, Tom Issendorf, Evron Rostad, Wayne Whitty, Hal Tarvestad Brian Adams To sign the online guest register
for Tootie |