Vernon William Philipp was born July 22, 1923 in Grand Plain Township, Marshall County, MN, the son of John and Sarah (Klockman) Philipp. He was baptized at Germantown and confirmed October 13, 1938 at Zion Lutheran Church, Mavie, MN. He grew up and attended country school District #76 in Grand Plain Township and Goodridge High School. Vernon also attended and graduated from Crookston Agricultural College. It was after graduating, that Vernon started to farm. He moved to St. Paul, MN and worked at Swifts Meat Packing Plant during the winter and returned to his own farm during the summer.

On October 22, 1950, Vernon was united in marriage to Yvonne Elizabeth Mead at St. John Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN. The couple made their home on the farm, where they lived their whole married life. For 10 years, Vernon worked for Lakehead Pipeline in Viking, MN and the last year of that time, he spent in Chicago, IL. He returned to Minnesota in 1979, retired and continued to farm. In the winters of 2001 and 2002, the couple lived with their daughter in Higginsville, MO.

He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church. Vernon was a dedicated lifetime farmer. He liked mechanical work, collected old cars and tractors to restore, but never found the time. Vernon was proud of his family and loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren very much.

Survived by wife, Yvonne, Thief River Falls, MN; daughter, Paulette (Daryl) Augustine, Higginsville, MO; sons, Joe (Sue), Goodridge, MN; Dale (Wendy), Thief River Falls, MN and Mike (Becky) Philipp, Thief River Falls, MN; 6 grandchildren: Derek (Susan) Augustine, Dana (Randy) Shafer, Brad Philipp, Brent (Crystelle) Philipp, Sally (Lucas) Wolff and Johnnie Philipp; 4 great grandchildren, Kayla, Gracie and Adam Augustine and Brenden Shafer; a half brother, Glen Olson, Yuma, AZ.

Preceded in death by parents; 2 sisters, Edna McFarland and Estelle Houghom; 6 brothers: Lawrence, James, Earl, Harry, Charles and Ralph, in infancy and a half brother, Carl Olson.