Rippey, Richard "Dick" 1931-1956

RIPPEY

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/17/2009 at 14:57:14

“DICK” RIPPEY

Mrs. Edna Rippey of LeMars received a long distance telephone call early Saturday morning, the caller identifying himself as a doctor at the Vermillion, South Dakota, hospital. “I have some bad news for you, Mrs. Rippey,” said the caller. “Your son, Richard, has been very seriously hurt in a car accident.”

The line was then interrupted and Mrs. Rippey tried frantically to re-establish connections. The connection had not been broken, but the doctor had been called away from the phone for a moment. When he returned to the phone, he explained that he had just learned that Richard Rippey had just died. The boy’s mother fainted.

Richard Rippey, 25, a student in journalism at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, was riding in a car loaded with six University of South Dakota students, and this car, a 1951 model, was in collision with a car carrying six members of the Harvey Mount family, who reside on a farm near Gayville, South Dakota.

The left rear door of the car carrying the students and driven by Darrell Watson, a sophomore from Chamberlain, was ripped off in the collision and Rippey was thrown out. He was taken to Dakota hospital in Vermillion and died there before he could be taken to St. Joseph Mercy hospital in Sioux City.

Miss Janice Jorgenson of Irene, South Dakota, another occupant of the car in which Rippey was riding, was critically injured in the accident and was taken to St. Joseph’s hospital in Sioux City. She was listed as being “critical” until today, when her condition was termed “fair.”

Other occupants of the car were David Dahl of Sioux Falls, Ruth Fairbanks and Carol Steigelmeyer, both of Vermillion. All escaped serious injury.

The occupants of the other car, all of whom escaped serious injury were: the driver, his wife and four children, Gary 12, Sylvia 14, Harvey Jr. 10 and Billy 8. Mrs. Mount and Gary were hospitalized but later released.

The Watson car was returning to Vermillion from Yankton and the Mounts were leaving Vermillion for their home at the time of the crash.

Clay County Sheriff, Joe O’Connor, Deputy Tom Walker, Capt. Al Stafne of the motor patrol, Arnold Nelson, Vermillion policeman and Coroner Myron Iverson investigated the accident.

Iverson said there would be an inquest into the crash next week.

Funeral services for Richard Rippey, who had spent his entire life in Plymouth County with the exception of four years spent in the Navy, were held at 2:00 p.m. at the First Methodist church in LeMars, March 26. Rev. R. V. Gildner officiated at last rites and burial was in the LeMars City Cemetery under the direction of the Mauer funeral home.

Survivors include his mother, Edna; and a sister, Sallee, at home. Many aunts and uncles and cousins also survive. He was preceded in death by his father and an infant sister.

Deceased was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

Dick recently participated in the annual Strollers Show at the University on March 19. He was pledged to Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

~Source: The LeMars Globe-Post, March 26, 1956