Ray Lippe

Noel Rayburn “Ray” Lippe, 88, died November 5, 2025 at Brewster Place Health Center in Topeka, KS. The son of Orville and Erma Lippe, he was born November 16, 1936 on a farm southwest of Morganville, KS. He attended Clay County Community High School, graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Agricultural Journalism, and from the University of Missouri with a master’s degree in Journalism. Ray married Betty J. Larkin of Admire, KS in 1959.

He was a field editor for the Packer Fruit & Vegetable Newspaper, working in Kansas City, Chicago, Denver and Salt Lake City. In 1964, he was named editor of Mid-America Insurance and associate editor of Bank News magazine in Kansas City. He formed Halgo Publishing in 1969 to publish purchasing magazines for the St. Louis, Kansas City, Oklahoma and Colorado markets. Moving to Topeka in 1972, he organized Mid-America Commerce & Industry, a multi-state trade magazine for manufacturers, which he published until 1999 when his son, David, took over the business.

Ray participated in ROTC at Kansas State University and served in the United States Air Force Reserve, being called up for the Bay of Pigs crisis. He was a member of Delta Sigma Phi social fraternity and Sigma Delta Chi and Kappa Tau Alpha journalism honor societies. He was a member of several manufacturing associations and societies. He belonged to Topeka First United Methodist Church; the Wesley Weds Sunday School Class, participated in a discussion group for over 30 years and was a docent at the Kansas Museum of History and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. He and Betty traveled extensively for many years including 44 Road Scholar tours and numerous international trips.

Survivors include his wife, Betty of Topeka; sons, David Lippe (Colleen) of Topeka and Darren Lippe (Doris) of Leawood; grandchildren, Andrew Lippe (Marissa) and great-granddaughters Evelyn and Rosalie of Olathe, KS; Allison Lippe-Mackey (Matt) of Lawrence, KS, Matthew Lippe and Jacob Lippe of Leawood, KS; brother, Maynard Lippe of Chillicothe, MO; sister-in-law, Lana Larkin; and a niece, Kathryn Larkin Friddle. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother-in-law, Ralph Larkin.

The family thanks the caregivers at Brewster Place Health Center and Ascend Hospice for their tremendous care.

Services are planned for Saturday, November 15 at Topeka First United Methodist Church Klasse Chapel. A visitation will be held at 10:00am followed by the funeral at 11:00am.

In Ray’s honor, contributions may be made to Topeka First United Methodist Church, 600 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66603 or the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Red Carpet Service, 1515 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66604.