Francis Ernest (Rip) Riepl

Francis Ernest (Rip) Riepl, age 85, died on Friday, March 17, 2006 at Brendan House in Kalispell. He was born on June 22, 1920 in Herndon, Kansas the son of Matthew & Suzanna (Pingetzer) Riepl.

Rip graduated from Herndon Kansas High School at the top of his class. He joined the U.S. Navy in August of 1941. He married Irene Alice Lawson in 1945. They moved to Missoula in 1947 and he retired from the Navy in 1961. He then went to work for the Missoula Montana Post Office as a postal clerk, retiring form there in 1978, and then moved to Polson, Montana. Rip's wife passed away on March 12, 1995. Rip stayed in Polson for a few more years, when he moved to Columbia Falls to live with his daughter and son-in-law.

Rip enjoyed fishing, wood working and spending his summers at camp Tuffit on Lake Mary Ronan. He will be greatly missed and always in our hearts.

Rip was preceded in death by his beloved wife; three sisters, Bertha Groves, Ida Saxrude and Helen Riepl; two brothers, Edward and Gerald Riepl.

He is survived by his loving daughter, Connie Vetter and husband Jim Schelling of Columbia Falls; his beloved grandsons, Michael Vetter of Camarillo, Calif., and Thomas Vitter stationed in Greece on the island of Crete, of whom he was very proud; great grandsons, Dylan and Cody Vetter of Camarillo, Calif.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2006 at 10 a.m., at Lake View Cemetery in Polson. There will be no visitation.

Johnson Mortuary & Crematory is caring for Francis' family.