Ripley, Donald Stephen (1933-2001)

RIPLEY, MOHE, HERVEY, SWIRES, GOOSSEN, HOLT, DELIBERTO, MILLER

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 4/11/2021 at 13:21:42

Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Iowa
Tuesday, May 29, 2001

Donald S. Ripley, 67, West Des Moines, died Sunday, May 27, 2001 at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. Donald Stephen Ripley, son of Jay C. and Irene Mohe Ripley, was born November 23, 1933 at Winnebago, Minnesota, was graduated from Bass Lake Country School and Winnebago High School in 1952. He participated with the 4-H International Farm Youth Exchange going to Pakistan. He attended Mankato State College and graduated from Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kansas with Bachelor of Science Degree, entered Central Seminary at Kansas City, graduating in 1960 with a Masters of Divinity Degree.

On June 25, 1955 he married Angeline Ellen Hervey at Winnebago, Minnesota. In 1960, Pastor Ripley and his wife moved to Denison and served the First Baptist Church until 1968. This pastorage was interrupted twice to serve as Chaplain in the United States National Guard - once during the Berlin Crisis and the second time in Vietnam. He retired from the National Guard as a Lt. Col. After serving in Vietnam, Pastor Ripley served the Bethany Baptist and Plymouth Congregational churches in Ottumwa, moving to Keokuk First Baptist Church in 1981 where he served until 1988. He moved to Webster City First Baptist Church in 1988 and semi-retired to West Moines in 1998, where he continued to serve the American Baptist Church in the capacity of Field Minister for 30 churches in the southwest portion of Iowa.

In every community in which he served, he was actively involved in church and community organizations, gaining the respect of all. In Ottumwa, he was a board member of Tenco Workshop for the Mentally Challenged. He served over 20 years on the MABSSCO Board of Directors which oversees a home for behaviorly challenged youth. In Webster City, he served as president of the Ministerial Association and president of the Noon Kiwanis. Presently, he was a member of the Westover Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir and taught students in the Awana Club. He promoted camping ministries throughout his ministerial career. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Angie, daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Dan Swires, Lafayette, Colorado, Mona and Jim Goossen, Chesterfield, Indiana, Jayme and Stefen Holt of Hiawatha, Kansas; son and daughter-in-law, Douglas and Ruth Ripley, Hammond, Louisiana; nine grandchildren - Justin, Josh and Jessica Swires, Israel Ripley, Amy Deliberto and Janette Miller; Nicholas and Rachel Goossen and Jordon Holt; four great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Donna Ripley, Faribault, Minnesota and Robert and Karen Ripley, Lakeview, Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Dale Ripley.

For 41 years, Don served the Lord faithfully with the American Baptist Churches.

Services will be held Friday, June 1 at 10 a.m. at the Westover Baptist Church, 2330 62nd St., Des Moines. Graveside services with military rites will be conducted at Riverview Cemetery at Winnebago, Minnesota. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 31, 2001 at Westover Funeral Home, 6337 Hickman Road, Des Moines.