John Ripplinger Recorded funeral service link: https://youtu.be/ibp3wdNhdc4

John "JB" Ripplinger, 96 , of Harvey, ND died Monday, January 17, 2022 at the St. Aloisius Nursing Home in Harvey.  Funeral services will be held at the St. Cecilia Catholic Church of Harvey on Saturday January 22, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.  Visitation will be held at the St. Cecilia Catholic Church on Friday January 21, 2022 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Prayer services will be at 7:00 p.m. on Friday at the St. Cecilia Catholic Church of Harvey.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

John Bernard Ripplinger, known by many as JB, was born on a farm in Esmond, ND, to John J and Cecilia (Kunnanz) Ripplinger on January 19, 1925.  John, just shy of his 97th birthday, passed from this life on January 17, 2022.  Educated in Van Hook and rural Balta, ND, JB had a keen talent for numbers and curiosity for anything health or medical-related.  At the age of six, John suffered a ruptured appendix, he nearly died of peritonitis without the benefit of antibiotics.  As a young man, the after effects of his illness prevented him from serving in the Army during WWII.

Meeting his future wife at a dance in Selz, John married Isabelle Hoffner November 14, 1944.  The couple would go on to make a life together for over 55 years and raise three sons, Claude, Leon and Monte.  John farmed in the Esmond, Selz and Harvey area, and in 1978, he retired due to ill health.  He and Isabelle traveled extensively including a trip to the world's largest agricultural show held in Paris in 1981.  However, retirement was not for him, so in 1980, JB became the owner and founder of Ripplinger Motors until 1997 when son Claude took on the business.

Throughout his lifetime John served this rural community in many capacities.  As a farmer, he was vital in bringing electricity to Truman township and was the first farmer in the area to use electric milking machines.   As one of the Eagles Club charter members, he served on the board of trustees, as well as working as its manager for seven years. John also served as president of Farmers Union Oil Co, treasurer of both the New German School District and Truman Township, and president of the Farmers Union Shipping Assn.  Hoping to bring more conveniences to Harvey, JB helped establish Warehouse Grocery serving as its president for two years.  His other board memberships included West Dakota Chevy Dealers, the FHA board, St. Aloisius Hospital, and Midwest Federal Bank.

After losing wife Isabelle to a battle with cancer in 2000, John met and married his new partner in life, Virginia Ziegler.  John and Virginia married on August 9, 2002 and enjoyed twenty years of marriage together. The two made the most of their years together.  They often traveled to visit family and friends with Hawaii, California, Idaho, Seattle, Wisconsin, and an Alaskan cruise all part of their destinations and ventures. The couple loved playing Texas Hold'em, going to the casino and taking Sunday drives to check out the crops and countryside.

JB is survived by wife, Virginia of Harvey; two sons, Leon (Carol) Ripplinger of Kelseyville, CA and Monte (Diane) Ripplinger of Rogers, MN; four grandchildren, Nicole Armstrong, Chad Ripplinger, Sarah Mason and Travis Ripplinger; five great-grandchildren; Tyler, Isabella, Ava, Nora and Georgia; brothers, LeRoy (Mildred) Ripplinger of Rice Lake, MN and Eugene (Marlene) Ripplinger of McClusky, ND; step children, Claudette (Tony) Selzler of Velva, ND, Calvin Ziegler of St. Augusta, MN, Carey Ziegler of Karlsruhe, ND, Carlyn (John) Dakutak of Minot, ND, Connie Ziegler of Phoenix, AZ, Clarae Ziegler of Bismarck, ND;  numerous step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.

JB was preceded in death by his wife, Isabelle; son and daughter-in-law, Claude and Vicki Ripplinger; sister, Leona Voyles; brothers, Victor, Henry and Bill.

Share online at www.hertzfuneralhomes.com