The end of an era: Saying goodbye to the Shipmans
Kristen Jones
Farmer Staff Writer
Sometimes the end of an era is globally earthshaking, comes accompanied with loud fanfare, and uproarious commotion. Other times it happens in a quiet, humble way that begs for no lime-light, willing to inconspicuously make way for the next chapter. This unassuming changing of the guard is what happened last week in McKenzie County. Neal and Lisa Shipman retired from their posts as the champion, captain, and guardians of the McKenzie County Farmer, which they’ve held for the last 39 years.
Neal and Lisa have been a staple in the community for decades. Lisa remembers being a newlywed and having her father-in-law call her down to the office to help with some emergency typing. When she finished “he looked at my work and said, ‘Wow! This is pretty good! I think you should plan on being here every day,’” Lisa recalled. “And that’s how it happened. I wasn’t planning on working then…but I have been here ever since.”
The Farmer has been part of the Shipman family for three generations. When Neal and Lisa took over running the paper, neither of them fully realized how much this would shape and be part of their lives. “This has been not just part of our life, but entwined in our life,” recalled Lisa.
The paper has been a big part of their family as well. While neither of their sons felt the call of the press, Lisa said, “Our sons knew and were very aware of what their parents did.”