Mary Eva Ripplinger

Mary E. Ripplinger, of Devils Lake died Tuesday morning, September 11, 2007 on her 96th birthday at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Robert Pecotte will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 8:00 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass in the Mother Theresa Hall. Serving as Casket Bearers for Mary will be Daniel Walker, Kent Ripplinger, Mark Schwan, Allen Schwan, Brian Schwan and Karl Krogfoss. Reading the Scriptures: Thomas Walker and Kirk Ripplinger Gift Bearers will be Mary’s children, Ray, Frances, Pete and Rosemary and granddaughters, Dianne Pearce and Connie Olson Music will be provided by Peter A. Hager and Patty Cote Mary Eva, daughter of Michael and Franziska (Schmidt) Kurtz Sr. was born on September 11, 1911 at Orrin, ND. She was reared and educated in the Orrin area, attending country school and was a baptized and confirmed member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Orrin. As one of the older of the 12 children, Mary worked hard on the farm helping her parents to provide for the needs of their large family. On November 13, 1933, Mary was united in marriage to Peter P. Ripplinger Sr. at Orrin. They established their home on the farm east of Barton where they farmed for thirteen years. In 1947, they moved to the farm east of Devils Lake where they would live, work and raise their family. They retired from farming in 1974 and moved into Devils Lake in 1985. Peter died on March 24, 1998. Mary moved to Sky View Apartments in 1999 and then to the Odd Fellows Home in May of 2004. Mary was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Altar Society and St. Valentine Circle and later St. Jude Circle. She worked for a time at the General Hospital and also at “The Ranch” steakhouse. But most of Mary’s life was devoted to caring for her family and giving example of her Catholic faith to her family through her involvement in the church. Mary and Peter loved to dance and graced many a dance floor together. She enjoyed playing cards with friends and of course she always made sure she had some homemade baked goods and a cup of coffee to share with them at the end of the day. Her creative talent was also brought to light in her crocheting and sharing the many beautiful afghans she made with her family, making sure every grandchild received one handmade by “Grandma”. The love she shared with us will be forever in our hearts and memory. Mary is survived by her loving children: Raymond Ripplinger and his wife, Sally (Gaa) of Loveland, Colorado Rosemary Schwan and her husband, Maurice of Devils Lake Peter Ripplinger and his wife, Jeanette (Gust) of Jamestown Frances Walker and her husband, Lawrence of Walcott, ND Fourteen Grandchildren and Eight Step Grandchildren Twenty-eight Great Grandchildren and Three Step Great Grandchildren One Great Great Granddaughter and Four Step Great Great Grandchildren Sisters and Brothers: Margaret Bischoff (Mrs. Anthony) of Rugby Joanna Nelson (Mrs. Stanley) of Cando Phyllis Miller (Mrs. John) of Brooklin, Michigan Mike Kurtz Jr. of Devils Lake Many nieces, nephews and their families also survive Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Peter; twins in infancy and son, Leonard; grandchildren, Vincent Walker and Craig Ripplinger and two step grandchildren; sisters, Magdalena Black and Katherine Black-Klein; brothers, John C. Kurtz, Anton P. Kurtz, Frank A. Kurtz and two brothers in infancy.