Kim Leah Gardipee Hipp, 38, died early Wednesday morning in Butte. She was born in Butte on March 24, 1970, the daughter of Ed and Helen (Berger) Gardipee.

Kim attended local schools and graduated from Butte High School. Her wandering spirit took her to Idaho, Oklahoma and Oregon; where she married Darrell “Butch” Hipp in Bend, Ore., on Aug. 9, 1996. The mountains eventually called her home to Montana. She was residing in East Helena until the time of her death. She enjoyed countless hours as a school bus driver. Because of her love of children, Kim never considered her employment a job.

 

Kim was preceded in death by her grandparents, Alice Matheson, Joseph N. Gardipee, and Elizabeth and Edward Berger; and her son, Nattiel “Tee” Santos.

She is survived by her husband, Darrell “Butch” Hipp; daughters and son-in-law, Casandra and Brian Bush, and Jessica Hipp; her granddaughter, Bobby Ann Bush.