----Source: Colby, WI Phonograph, April, 1954 (from our family scrapbook).

Verna Riplinger Passes Away (16-Apr-1954)

Mrs. Verna Riplinger died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William George at Gilman, Friday at 9:30 P. M. at the age of 67 years. She had been a patient at the Marshfield hospital the past two and one-half months and was taken to her daughter's home two weeks ago. She had been ill about one year and six months.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. George (Vernetta) of Gilam and Mrs. Ray (Grace) Harvey of Manchester, Tenn.; a son, Ben M. Riplinger of Rockford, Ill., a sister, Miss Arva Sturner of Milwaukee; four brothers, Oscar Sturner of Colby, Edward Sturner of Salt Lake City, Utah, Emil Sturner of Lowell and Huber Sturner of Bruce. Also nine grandchildren. Her husband and a daughter, Mrs. Art (Lorraine) Tesmer preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held at the Lulloff Funeral Home Monday afternoon, Rev. Harvey Schall officiationg, and interment was made in the Colby Cemetery. Pall bearers were Gust Brehm, Ray Marsh, Bill George, Jr., Bill Domer, Ed Reyer and Frank Goeltz, Sr.

Verna Sturner was born in Lowell, Wis., on August 2, 1886, and came to Colby approximately 46 years ago. She married Ben F. Riplinger at Colby on July 31, 1908. She was a member of the Eastern Star, Royal Neighbors and V. F. W. Auxillary. She was active in church work and the Red Cross and was librarian of the Colby public library at the time of her death.

Out-of-town people here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. William George and children of Gilman, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Riplinger of Rockford, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Ray Harvey and children of Manchester, Tenn., Miss Arva Sturner of Royal Oak, Mich., Mr. and Mrs. Bill Newton and children of Berkley, Mich., Mr. and Mrs. Emil Sturner, Mrs. Ben Hotmar and Mrs. Bob Rennack of Lowell, Clyde Cturner of Beaver Dam, Herbert Sturner of Bruce, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Riplinger and Hazel Riplinger of Riplinger, Miss Ethlyn Sturner of St. Paul, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Malcom Lamont of Abbotsfored and Bill George, Jr., of Milwaukee.

Mrs. Riplinger will be remembered by her many friends as a person who always endeavored to perform her various duties well and as one who was always willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed. Her friends will miss her genial companionship.