Pioneer Nevadan Whipple dies

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2000 | 8:31 a.m.

Birdie B. Whipple, an active member of the Mormon Church during her many years in Southern Nevada and Utah, and wife of the late church and civic leader Reed Whipple, died Monday at 95.

Reed Whipple, a banker who died in 1986, served 20 years beginning in 1947 on the then-Las Vegas City Commission (now the City Council). Considered the Nevada patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served 14 years as president of the Las Vegas Stake. The Reed Whipple Cultural Center in Las Vegas is named in his honor.

Although she kept out of the limelight, Birdie Whipple was a major force in Reed Whipple's success.

"Birdie, who was busy raising the children, made it so he was available to do all that he did," daughter Carolyn Benson said. "She always liked to work behind the scenes. She never wanted publicity or notoriety. She quietly sought those who needed help."

Born Birdie Bunker Nov. 1, 1905, in Panaca, she grew up in St. Thomas, a Mormon settlement that was buried under the waters of Lake Mead after Hoover Dam was built.

She was the granddaughter of Edward Bunker, a co-founder of Bunkerville, daughter Audrey Tennant said. Relatives on her mother's side helped settle Panaca.

In 1926 she and Whipple married in Salt Lake City and moved to Las Vegas, where Reed had already been working as a cashier for the Union Pacific Railroad. That year Reed Whipple took a job at the First State Bank, beginning his 44-year career in banking. He would later become senior vice president of First National Bank, which bought First State Bank in 1937. First National eventually became First Interstate Bank and is now Wells Fargo.

Birdie Whipple volunteered at her church and was always available to help a neighbor in need, Tennant said. She held various positions in women's groups at the Las Vegas Stake Center on West Charleston Boulevard. From 1970 to 1976 she served as the matron in the temple in St. George, Utah, with her husband, who was president of the temple.

Whipple also worked the election board for her precinct and was a member of Citizens for Responsible Government.

In addition to her daughters Carolyn and Audrey, she is survived by her son, Melvin Reed Whipple of Las Vegas; daughter Beth Whipple of Las Vegas; two brothers, Ferris Bunker of Las Vegas and Wayne Bunker of Boulder City, and 10 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

A service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Las Vegas Stake Center, 3400 W. Charleston Blvd. A visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday at Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North, and 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the LDS chapel.

Donations may be sent to the Navoo Temple Building Fund.