Edwin Griepp

Edwin Griepp, age 95, of Faribault, MN, and formerly of Big Stone City, SD, died on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at the St. Lucas Care Center.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. at Abiding Faith Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN, with Rev. Richard Larson officiating.

Burial will be held the next morning, Friday, May 13, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. in the Sisseton City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the time of service at the church on Thursday.

Casket bearers will be: Nicholas Althoff, Tyler Gross, Richard J. Kettering III, Scott Bjerke, Ryan McAlpine and Jon Storey.

Edwin G. Griepp was born on October 28, 1920, in Glad Valley, SD on a cattle and sheep ranch. He was the son of Gustave Henry Herman Griepp and Amherst Pearl (Silk) Cruff Griepp. At the age of 15, during the depth of the dust bowl years, Edwin and his family moved to the Lake City, SD area to find grazing for the livestock. Edwin graduated from Lake City High School in 1939.

The family bought a farm southwest of Sisseton, SD on the shore of Dry Wood Lake in 1944. In September of 1945 Edwin met the new school teacher for Dry Wood Lake #3, Violet Ruth Claudy, who became the love of his life.

Edwin enlisted in the United States Army, 11th Airborne on October 2, 1946. As a paratrooper, he made 11 jumps while serving in WWII and Occupied Japan. He rose to the rank of Sergeant under General MacArthur and was honorably discharged on April 12, 1948.

Edwin bought a combine, and with his best friend Howard Novstrop, went south to custom combine.
Edwin and Violet were united in marriage on May 14, 1949, at the Evangelical United Brethren Church, Revillo, SD. Violet traveled with Edwin custom combining as his cook.

Edwin acquired land next to his parents in the mid-1950’s and worked all of the land until it was sold in 1970. For the next 15 years Edwin did custom flax straw baling for Schweitzer and Archer Daniels Midland Companies. Edwin bought a hobby farm near Big Stone City, SD and Violet worked as Principal and teacher for the elementary school until she retired.
Edwin was a charter member of both the Ortley Free Lutheran Church and the Abiding Faith Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN and served in several offices. He was a longtime member of the Ortley VFW and a lifetime member of the American Legion. Edwin also belonged to Better Business Opportunity and other organizations designed to help small farmers and businesses. He loved all his farm animals especially his horses, dogs and cats. He was an avid reader of many subjects, especially history and Bible history.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Violet (Claudy) Griepp of Faribault, MN; three daughters: Nancy (Dennis) Althoff of Superior, MT; Wanda (Doug) Gross of Volga, SD; Anna (Richard) Kettering of Faribault, MN; grandchildren: Nicholas (Diane) Althoff of Ranchester, WY; Gwendolyn (Jamie) Cogley of Challis, ID; Rebecca (Bradley) Ivie of Conroe, TX; Tania (Scott) Bjerke of Volga, SD; Tiffany (Ryan) Perry of Pleasanton, CA; Teresa (Ryan) McAlpine of Coon Rapids, MN; Tarsha (Jon) Storey of Laramie, WY; Tyler Gross of Volga, SD; Richard J. Kettering III of Golden Valley, MN; Aurora Kettering of Kansas City, MO; great-grand children: Mattie Althoff (fiancé Nate Gideon); Kelly and Denise Althoff; Ashley and Brooke Bjerke; Devon, Gabriel, and Halle Cogley; Aidan and Traigh Perry; Summer, Dacotah, and Kieran McAlpine; great-great-grandchildren: Jackson and Charles Gideon.

Edwin was preceded in death by is beloved mother, Amherst; father, Gustave ; two infant daughters: Gwendolyn Gail and Laura Ruth; and one brother, Wesley Frank Cruff.