Stephen Ripplinger

Recorded Funeral Service Link: https://youtu.be/S9Wrd249RHs

Stephen Ripplinger, 82, of Enderlin, North Dakota, formerly of the Esmond and Harvey areas, passed away on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at SMP Health – Maryhill Nursing Home in Enderlin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Harvey, ND. Visitation will take place at Hertz Funeral Home in Harvey on Thursday, November 13, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service following at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. A private interment will be held at a later date.

Stephen was born on July 25, 1943, in Harvey, North Dakota, the son of Michael and Helen (Lesmeister) Ripplinger. He attended St. Cecilia Catholic Grade School and Harvey Public School. Following his education, Stephen farmed alongside his father and also worked for Robert Patzer Aerial Spraying and Harvey Sand and Gravel, owned by Martin Stumpf.

In 1966, Stephen was united in marriage to Gloria Mae Erickson in California, where he was employed at a winery. The couple later returned to Harvey in 1967, where Stephen resumed farming with his father. Though their marriage ended in later years, Stephen remained deeply committed to his family and to the farming life he loved. He continued farming until his retirement and later became a resident of Maryhill Nursing Home in Enderlin.

Stephen had many interests and hobbies throughout his life. He enjoyed visits from neighbors, hunting, flying, working on cars and tractors, collecting toy tractors, and attending his children's and grandchildren's school activities. A proud John Deere man through and through, Stephen had a fondness for all things green and yellow. He was well-known for painting hitch pins, chain hooks, hammers, and just about anything else he could find in John Deere colors - a signature touch that brought a smile to those who knew him.

Stephen also had a voice that could carry across a store, a shop, or even a parking lot - and those who knew him best will remember that booming, unmistakable voice that always announced his presence long before you saw him. His hearty laugh and easygoing nature made him a joy to be around, and his larger-than-life personality ensured that he never went unnoticed.

Stephen will be remembered as a one-of-a-kind individual whose humor and friendly spirit left a lasting impression on everyone he met. Whether sharing a story, lending a hand, or simply saying hello, he had a way of making people feel welcome and valued. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his daughter, Amanda Ripplinger of Harvey; twin sons, Scott of Albuquerque, NM, and Paul (Sheila) of Enderlin; three grandchildren, Hunter (Alyssa), Michael, and Jasmine (Chase); one great-granddaughter, Noa Mae; and sisters, Stephina Gisi of Rapid City, SD, and Sylvia Grad of Harvey. He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Helen Ripplinger.