Miriam H. (Maki) Knipple

Miriam H. Knipple , age 87, of Yuma, Arizona, passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at her sister's home in Deer River, Minn.

Miriam was born January 5, 1937 in Inger, Minn. to George and Hanna (Alajoki) Maki. She attended country school in Sand Lake for eight years. She lived at the dormitory and graduated from Deer River High School in 1953.

After working several years at the bank in Deer River she moved to the San Francisco area in California and was employed by Pan American Airlines. Interested in flying, she became the first woman to join the Pan Am American flying club and together with a cousin made many trips across country. She later moved to Juneau, Alaska. There she met her husband, Charles Knipple, a mechanic at Alaska Airlines and later moved to Seattle, Wash. After Chuck retired they lived in their motor home for 10 years traveling to all the states as well as most of Canada. They grew to love the desert and they bought a home in Yuma, Arizona. She had many friends there and she would sing and play her guitar at jam sessions. After Chuck's death she spent most of her summers in Minnesota.

She is preceded in death by her husband Charles Knipple, her parents, one sister Mary, one niece Colleen (Skaja) Tynjala and Colleen's infant son Randy.

She is survived by one sister, Joan Isaacs, Deer River, numerous nieces and nephews, and many dear desert friends who live scattered around the country.

A service will be held Thursday, May 2, at 2:00 with visitation at 1:00, at the Carroll Funeral Home in Deer River, MN. Burial will be at the Alajoki Cemetery in Menahga, Minnesota.

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