Kip’s Comments - July 14, 2026

Gratitude -

This morning I traveled to Rochester, Minnesota to share the news of Mom’s passing with the very folks who saved her life for the past ten years. At least every three weeks Mom and I traveled to the Mayo Clinic for evaluations and treatments. My brothers did join in when possible. Her last regiment, a successful soup mix of immunotherapy, worked for 76 or 77 doses (who is counting). But, an aging body can only continue on for so long. Nobody lasts forever and sadly we lost Mom on July 4. Mom is now healthy and whole again and enjoying the company of so many who went before her in her heavenly home. For that I find comfort.

My challenge, along with my family’s, is to give thanks to so many of you who supported us during the past years and especially the past week or so. It would be impossible for me to name all individually without missing someone. Instead, I will thank those who called, visited, texted, mailed, private messaged, or reached out in some other manner during this difficult time. While my conversations with you may have been brief and maybe even fragmented due to so many thoughts firing in my head, know that I have relieved or reread our conversations many times.

Through grief and sorrow we found out who our friends are, and there are so many of you. For that we are very thankful. Words cannot express our appreciation for each of you. Thank you… thank you so very much! Your thoughtfulness meant the world to us - more than you know.

The photo in this post came from this morning as I stopped to look at “our tree” (Mom and my tree). There were two lone trees out in fields en route to Rochester. We checked our trees on every trip to Rochester. When conditions were right we would stop for photos. Today’s photographic conditions were not ideal for imaging, but the conditions warranted that I stop on this last, final trip I promised Mom I would make. I flew my drone out for photos and then edited the image for a more somber appearance to match my mood. Mom would have understood.

Again - I thank each of you for your friendship and support these past weeks. I thank those of you who my erratic schedule over the past years impacted - sometimes negatively - for your patience. Thank you!

And, I thank you for the birthday greetings that came a couple of days after Mom’s funeral.