Francis Ernest 'Rip' Riepl, 85

Francis Ernest "Rip" Riepl, 85, died Friday, March 17, 2006, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

He was born June 22, 1920, in Herndon, Kan., the son of Matthew and Suzanna (Pingetzer) Riepl. Rip graduated from Herndon High School at the top of his class.

He joined the U.S. Navy in August 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 post office as a postal clerk, retiring from there in 1978, and then moved to Polson. Rip's wife passed away March 12, 1995. Rip stayed in Polson for a few more years, then he moved to Columbia Falls to live with his daughter and son-in-law.

Rip enjoyed fishing, woodworking 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; and 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; and great-grandsons, Dylan and Cody Vetter, of Camarillo.

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

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Francis' family.