Obituary: Liptac, Kelli
LIPTAC, Kelli
On May 5, 2016 the world lost a beloved wife, mother, sister, friend and coach, Kelli Ann Liptac, 56.
Kelli was born to Howard and Marge Sullivan on October 26, 1959 in Spokane, Washington.
She attended Shadle Park High School before spending some time in Alaska studying art.
In addition to her large extended family in Spokane, she also had family in Kansas whom she visited every summer with her sister.
Kelli and Phil met in 1978 on a blind date set up by her mother.
They had eyes only for each other and were married on May 16, 1981 in Spokane, Washington.
They were best friends, committed to each other through the good, bad, happy, sad, and beautiful.
Soon after marrying, they moved to Billings, Montana.
Kelli was a city girl dropped into the country, but she soon grew to love her new home.
Together, Kelli and Phil raised three children.
They proudly watched their kids grow up, graduate, and move on to their dream jobs.
Kelli described Phil as her one and only Hero.
Together they faced many challenges, none as difficult as receiving a diagnosis of heart failure in 1995.
The last 20 years, Kelli has been a fighter.
Never giving up, and always staying strong.
She found humor in every tough situation.
The most recent was her nickname of “walking dead” or “bionic woman” after she had her LVAD implanted.
Kelli was full of different talents.
Growing up, Kelli had a love of figure skating and was a member of the Lilac Figure Skating Club in Spokane, Washington where she was both a skater and coach.
After she moved to Billings, Montana, Kelli was a manager at Albertsons and continued to coach figure skating for the Figure Skating Club of Billings.
Her students describe her as gentle but strong.
She made them believe in themselves and pushed them to be the best they could be.
As well as a figure skater, Kelli was also a talented artist.
She made beautiful scrapbooks, cards, photo albums, and calendars.
She also enjoyed quilting and crocheting blankets for friends and family to celebrate life’s special occasions.
Kelli described her life as blessed.
She loved her family and friends, and she was always ready to do anything for them.
God gave her many challenges and each challenge was a blessing.
When asked how she did it, she would respond, “I live life.
I don’t let this disease dictate how I live.”
She will truly and forever be missed.
We love you always.
Kelli was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Margaret Sullivan, and her father-in-law Larry Liptac.
Kelli is survived by the love of her life, her husband, Phil Liptac, her three children, Andrea Liptac, Samantha Liptac, and Nathan Liptac, her sister, Kerri Sullivan (Randi), her mother-in-law, Joyce Liptac, her sister-in-law, Jill Foran (Rich), her brother-in-law, Bryce Liptac (Karen), as well as nephews, uncles and aunts, cousins and great friends.