In Memory of Rev. Margaret A. Keip (September 24, 1938 – October 16, 2024)
We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Margaret “Marge” A. Keip, who died on October 16, 2024, at the age of 86.
Marge was born on September 24, 1938, in Chicago, IL, to John H. Johnson and Elizabeth Siegel. She was raised in a devout Lutheran family. Her family moved to Peoria, IL when she was a junior in high school. There, Marge thrived in Speech and Art and participated in Junior Achievement. She was actively involved in church youth groups and attended Carthage College, a small Lutheran institution. During her sophomore year, she met her future husband Fred F. Keip; they married the following year. In 1960, Marge received her Bachelor of Science in Commercial Art from Purdue University, IN. Over the next few years, she became a mother, moved to Texas, Wisconsin, and later to St. Olaf, MN where Fred taught drama. In Wisconsin, she and Fred became involved with the Unitarian Fellowship in Madison. This inspired them to start a Unitarian Fellowship at St. Olaf College. Her husband decided not to complete the Ph.D. he had begun at the University of Wisconsin and instead enrolled at Starr King School for the Ministry and completed the program. As they navigated these transition years, Marge worked at doing freelance commercial artwork before answering her own call to the UU ministry. She graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry with her Master of Divinity degree in 1976.
The Rev. Keip was ordained by the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel, CA on May 11, 1975, where she served as co-minister alongside her husband, the Rev. Fred F. Keip from 1975 to 1996. Together the Revs. Keip fostered growth, resilience, and transformation within the congregation. During their shared ministry, the church flourished transitioning from a rented Sunday-only space to building its own home. They introduced shared ministry programs, crafted a mission statement, and developed a new long-range plan. The church’s membership tripled, laying the foundation for its future. During that time, the church was one of the earliest to become a “Welcoming Congregation” to the LGBTQ community and a host to the PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) chapter when it was first organized there. In recognition of these profound contributions, the church honored the Rev. Keip as their minister emerita in 1996. The following year 1997, she received an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology from Starr King School for the Ministry.
From 1996 to 1997, the Rev. Dr. Keip served as an interim co-minister with her husband at the Unitarian Church of Lincoln, NE. During their tenure, she collaborated closely with the committee responsible for developing the congregation’s new organizational structure and offered guidance to address the successes and difficulties encountered in its implementation. The Revs. Keip also offered a conflict management workshop series that led to the inauguration of a congregational team. Thereafter, from 1997 to 1999, the Rev. Dr. Keip provided her interim services to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Sonoma County, CA (now the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa, CA). She worked with the board to review and refine its internal dynamics. She guided the congregation in exploring the Carver Model of Policy Governance and assisted in its adoption, adaptation, and employment to support effective leadership and board governance.
Her interim ministry at the UU Congregation of Marin, San Rafael, CA (1999-2001) focused on addressing the Sunday morning space crunch and a decade-long plateau in membership. Under her leadership, the congregation made the significant decision to introduce a second Sunday service. At the UU Church of Spokane, WA (2001-2003), she played a pivotal role in guiding the congregation to clarify its mission and strengthen its sense of purpose. She held the congregation in care, challenged them to introspect, to accept opportunities for religious development knitting a new connection with the wider Spokane community, and helped the Board understand the “Policy Governance” model of leadership. After that, she served as an interim minister for the Kitsap UU Fellowship, Bremerton, WA (2003-2004) where she supported the fellowship in reviewing its evolving needs and aspirations. Subsequently, Rev. Dr. Keip served the UU Church in Eugene, OR (2007). From 2009 to 2013, she provided her services as a contract minister for the UU of Grants Pass, OR, and as a Data Service Updater from 2010 to 2017.
The Rev. Dr. Keip was involved with the denomination serving on the PCD Nominating Committee (1986-1987) and the Accredited Interim Ministry Steering Committee (1998-2001). She served on the planning team of the Unitarian Universalist Process Theology Network and was a founding member of the Unitarian Universalist Clergy Couples. She was a member of the PCD Conflict Management Team and was a faculty member for the Pacific Central District Leadership School. Notably, she co-founded the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northfield, MN, and served for ten years as a trustee on the board of Starr King School for the Ministry. Furthermore, she served the Monterey Peninsula Ministerial Association as president, secretary, and vice-president of the program.
The Rev. Dr. Keip was an unequivocal asset to the UU ministry. She was a thoughtful and insightful counselor. Her sermons and interactions with groups and individuals demonstrated extreme insights and sensitivity. In her leisure time, she enjoyed calligraphy and had a love for color and design.
Margaret is survived by her husband Fred F. Keip, and her children: David Keip, Jeffrey Keip, and Kristen Cunningham.
A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on February 22, 2025, at the Unitarian Universalists of Grants Pass, 129 NW E St, Grants Pass, OR 97526. The service will also be streamed live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83776673819?pwd=aslve7yAfx1FJvZ9WcKPB18U2gBvyk.1
Meeting ID: 837 7667 3819; Passcode: 448555.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalists of Grants Pass, PO Box 1602, Grants Pass, OR 97528.
Notes of condolences may be sent to Fred Keip, 1700 Kellenbeck Ave., Apt 107, Grants Pass, OR 97527.