June Piper

June Elaine Piper, age 71, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on November 9, 2010, at Valley Eldercare Center in the arms of her loving husband Don. Many of her family members were at her side throughout much of the day and evening. After spending more than six months in many hospitalizations at both Altru Hospital and Mayo Clinic, and after enduring continuing procedures and surgeries for cancer as well as open heart surgery, June's body and her will just could not persevere any longer and she just wanted "to go home to Heaven." June Elaine Piper was born to Wilfred and Laurine (Birky) Koehler on December 13, 1938, in Valparaiso, IN. She was the oldest of seven children. She lived near Kouts, IN, until she married Donald L. Piper in Valparaiso on November 30, 1957. She and Don lived in several places in Illinois and in Rochester, NY, and they have spent the past 37 years in Grand Forks, ND, where both of them worked at the University of North Dakota. June received her bachelor's degree in fashion design and merchandising from the University of North Dakota in 1986. For nearly eight years she owned and operated the Romantic Beginnings Bridal Shoppe in the Grand Cities Mall where she delighted in helping young brides who needed advice and counsel in choosing wedding apparel and preparing for a beautiful service. As a consequence, she was invited to (and attended) many weddings. She worked in several capacities at UND for many years. Her most recent position was as administrative assistant and office manager for the Interactive Video Network (IVN) at UND which serves all North Dakota institutions of higher education as well as State offices and some public schools. She held this position for almost the entire existence of IVN and until her death. June was very committed to her work and was devoted to her co-workers and to the IVN clients. In her church, Faith Evangelical Free Church, June served tirelessly for nearly 37 years. Perhaps her most notable and recent service was as coordinator of numerous church-sponsored food events and celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. Probably the shortest and most accurate description of June's many roles in and out of the church was, "She spent her life helping people." Even though six of her eight grandchildren lived a long ways from Grand Forks for most of their lives, she was an amazingly devoted grandmother. Both granddaughters and grandsons knew that whenever they needed anything, whether it be love and encouragement or physical things, grandma usually was the first place they turned. Don remembers that one time two of the grandchildren went with June to the mall and, of course, came back with some presents. Don said, "Have you ever gone anywhere with grandma when she did not buy you something?" One grandchild replied, "Well, there was that one time . . . Oh no, never mind." One of Don's most proud and treasured memories of their family is that all four daughters-in-law treated June as though she actually was their mother. June's immediate family consists of Don Piper, her husband of 53 years, and four sons, four daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren: Scott and Judy Piper and sons Michael and James of Bothell, WA; Kevin and Barbara Piper and sons Daniel and Kyle of Wallingford, CT; Randy and Vicki Piper and daughters Kirsten and Samantha of Champlin, MN; and Ron and Sheila Piper and sons Tyler and Tanner of Grand Forks, ND. She also is survived by her father and step-mother, two sisters and four brothers, and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her mother and both of her grandmothers and grandfathers. Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, November 13, 2010 at Faith Evangelical Free Church located at 1400 24th Avenue South in Grand Forks, ND. Visitation will be held from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at the church prior to the service. Burial will take place at Memorial Park South Cemetery immediately following the funeral. June always had a great love for flowers. However, if anyone prefers to do so, memorials may be made to the Grand Forks Salvation Army, the Grand Forks Northlands Rescue Mission, or any other charity of your choice.