Val N. Whipple, age 86, of Ivanhoe, MN, passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at the Hendricks Nursing Home, Hendricks, MN. Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026 in the Ivanhoe Public School Gymnasium in Ivanhoe, MN. Visitation will be on Friday following the service with lunch and fellowship at the VFW in Ivanhoe, MN. Burial will be held at a later date in the Ivanhoe City Cemetery. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN is entrusted with the arrangements.
A Life Well Played
Valgene “Whip” Norwood Whipple, 86, of Ivanhoe, Minnesota, passed away on October 14, 2026, at Hendricks Community Hospital. Whip was born on July 28, 1940, in Tyler, Minnesota, to Vada (Selleck) Whipple and Lloyd Whipple. He was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist Church. After marrying Linnea Wacker on July 18, 1964, he became a member of the Lutheran Church (ELCA). Whip was raised in Ivanhoe, Minnesota. His parents opened Whip’s Café, which was operated during WWII by Vada while Lloyd served in the United States Navy. In 1956, the Whipple’s opened an insurance, real estate, and licensing business, Whipple Agency, which Whip took over after his parents’ retirement and operated until his own retirement. Whip was civic-minded as an Ivanhoe businessman, serving on the hospital board, the church council, the library board, and numerous other projects and committees. Growing up in Ivanhoe anchored Whip’s life passions: friendship, basketball, education, family, and faith. Whip treasured each one of his many friends, staying in touch with childhood friends his entire life. John Terry Ellgen and Whip were dearest friends for eighty-three years. John Terry remembers that Whip did not like his name, Valgene, so somewhere in those early summers, he became “Whip.” At Ivanhoe High School, Whip lettered in four sports all four years of high school. He earned five letters in baseball, graduating in 1958. Life after high school moved on to college, grad school, and an education career. Whip continued his education at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, playing baseball there and earning an education degree in 1962. Next came his MS in Guidance Counseling from SDSU, Brookings. Whip taught social studies and driver’s ed and coached in three Minnesota schools: Stewart, Minneota, and Ivanhoe. As a lifelong learner himself, Whip also served as the Director of Community Education for Ivanhoe and Hendricks. A highlight of his work in Community Education came in the early 1990s when Whip offered a class called “How to E-mail.” One of his students was his dad, Lloyd. No record remains of the grade Lloyd earned. His collection of amazing friends grew throughout college, teaching, coaching, business, church, and the community. Whip treasured relationships and counted nearly everyone he met as a friend. Many of those friends came through Whip’s passion for sports. Of all the sports, Whip loved basketball! His basketball knowledge is unparalleled. Whip dedicated his life to building players and programs. He loved sharing his passion with anyone who would come to the gym, attend a game, or share a Coke. We hope that other coaches, players, bookkeepers, managers, and officials who played with Dad or played against Dad will share their memories of him. Former players know that anyone who played for Whip was going to learn his ”Oh-fense,” and showing hustle was an expectation. Whip approached both coaching and life with a full-court press, giving his all to everything he did, while his kind and gentle spirit touched and encouraged so many along the way. But gentleness and kindness are not the whole story. Whip played and coached with spunk. He found ways to build competitive teams even as others underestimated him. Once in the game, that gentle kindness turned into intensity. In some games, an official’s call could seemingly make him lose his mind. Linn’s solution to that was to direct Ralph Hagen, dear friend and long-time assistant, to grab him by the belt loops to keep him off the court. “Play the game!” was his rallying cry. Important to Whip were the connections made and friendships formed through college, teaching, coaching, business, church, and the community. But family was the most important relationship in his life. Whip was a dedicated son, husband, father, and grandfather. That shows especially in the care Whip gave Linn. In the last two years, Linn has faced many challenges. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which required surgery and radiation. She has become less independent. Whip learned to use an air fryer, do laundry well, and navigate life while caring for Linn. He never wavered in his love and adoration for her even as she recognized him less and less. Whip’s deep and abiding faith sustained him through this difficult time and into the final quarter of his own life. In the final days, his daughters wrapped up Whip with love, and his sons-in-law and grandchildren showed their love and concern via FaceTime. Whip had always loved watching and hearing about the activities of his family, and that continued in these final days. The connection with Ivanhoe continued too, as one of his last requests was that we sing the school song for him. Whip’s favorite place to be throughout his playing days and his career as a coach was a gym. That’s why we will gather on Friday, October 23, at 10:30 am, at the school gym in Ivanhoe to celebrate Whip’s life. Reverend Mark Bents (forward), a former player and family relative, will officiate. Lunch and visitation will follow at the Ivanhoe Event Center (VFW). Val would be honored if you would join our family for the 10:30 service, noon lunch, or 1:00 visitation and storytelling after lunch.
Val is survived by his wife Linnea (Wacker) Whipple; daughters Gwen (Tim) Walz-Saint Paul; Maribeth (Pete) Sagmoe-Lakeville; Karrie (Greg) Nations—Edina; Heidi (Mark) Ohlmann-Prior Lake; grandchildren Hope Walz, Gus Walz, Chloee (Seth) Winger; Riley Sagmoe; Hayden Sagmoe; Peyton (Kaitlyn) Duncan, Ava Duncan, Claire Duncan, Isabell Ohlmann, Elle Ohlmann, and Vada Ohlmann, as well as dear friends and family.
