Gerald Ripplinger

Gerald “Jerry, Jer-Bear” Ripplinger, 73, Fargo, passed away on Tuesday October 15th at the VA Hospital in Fargo with his wife LaVerne by his side.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00AM, Friday, October 25, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 1919 N 2nd St, Bismarck, ND. 

Interment at 1:00PM, Friday, October 25 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. 

To view Jerry's service livestream, please use the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@CorpusBismarck/streams

Jerry and LaVerne (Gerving) were married in 1988 and he became the stepfather to Daniel, Becky, Kristie and Jeffrey Williams. 

Jerry was born on June 26th, 1951 in Mandan, ND to Peter and Margaret (Lauinger) Ripplinger. He was the youngest of 15 children. He enlisted in the Army in August, 1969 and served in Korea and Germany until March, 1972. Following his service, he worked various jobs from truck driver to eyeglass technician. He later went to trade school where he earned a Water and Wastewater Treatment Degree. He worked at treatment plants in South Dakota and Wyoming before establishing a career for the City of Fargo's Wastewater Treatment Plant where he worked for almost 20 years, retiring in 2018.

Jerry enjoyed watching his Yankees and Nascar. He was an avid Bass Fisherman. He would practice Catch, Kiss and Release for the thrill and challenge of “catching the big one.” Jerry was known for "kissing" his bass before returning them to catch again another day. He enjoyed having family, friends and his kids around and when the grandkids started coming, he found them to be his greatest joy. He loved every moment with them from taking his grandsons fishing or out to eat to watching his granddaughters play with all of the toys from the toy chest. He was so very proud of his great-grandchildren who affectionately called him ‘Great Papa.’ 

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Margaret Ripplinger; three sisters, Annette, Charlotte “Toots”, Shirley; seven brothers; William, Casper, Robert, Richard, Theodore and Eugene; daughter-in-law, Corrine Williams and infant, grandson, Zachary Williams. 

Jerry will be deeply missed by his wife of 36 years, LaVerne; stepchildren, Daniel (Roxy) Williams, Lincoln ND, Becky (Kevin) Madche, Bismarck, Kristie (Kyle) Williams, Fergus Falls, MN and Jeffrey Williams, Fargo ND; six grandchildren, Kelsie (Miguel) De Jesus, Ashton (Margo) Madche, Kole, Katelyn, and Kennedy Kallstrom and Emma Williams; four great-grandchildren, Oliver, Mason, Maevery De Jesus; baby boy Madche, due in January 2025; his sister, Donna Norton, Bismarck; three brothers, Larry (Michelle) Ripplinger, Mandan, Gary Ripplinger, Mandan, Pete (Kathy) Ripplinger, Billings, MT and numerous nieces and nephews.

He will always be remembered by his future generations as ‘Great Papa.’

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.