Porter Ripperton Jr., age 85, of Redwood Falls, formerly of Anoka, passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at Seasons Hospice House in Redwood Falls.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.  Interment is in the Redwood Falls Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the Redwood Falls VFW and American Legion.  Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

 

Porter Ripperton Jr. was born November 7, 1926 in Clay County, Iowa to Porter and Grace (Carr) Ripperton.  He was baptized at Mora Methodist Church in Mora, MN.  Porter attended Jackson County Iowa and Mora Public Schools.  He grew up in the Oslow area of Iowa until moving to Mora, MN at the age of 11.  Porter joined the United States Navy October 28, 1944 and served with the AMB unit of the Navy on the LMSR507 (Landing Ship Medium Rocket).  He was honorably discharged with the rank of 3rd Class Gunner Mate on August 6, 1946.  In 1948, Porter married Maxine Athey at the family home of Paul and Caroline Athey at Brook Park, MN.  The following children were born of this union: Douglas, Beverly, Barbara and Paul.  Later Porter married Virginia Johnson of Anoka.  Porter worked in the remodeling of homes and building new homes.  He had his own construction company at Anoka which his son, Doug, took over after his retirement.  Porter married Marjorie (Hoover) Scoates on January 2, 1993.  They made their home in Redwood Falls.  Porter enjoyed hunting, especially bear hunting, fishing, watching football and baseball, and traveling.

Porter is survived by his wife Marjorie Ripperton of Redwood Falls; children: Douglas (Pati) Ripperton of Eagan, Beverly Kostreba of St. Paul, Barbara Ripperton and Paul Ripperton both of Little Falls; step-children: Daniel (Fiorella) Johnson of Compton, CA, Jeanine (Greg) Nygard of Milaca, Nathan (Chris) Johnson of Anoka, James (Jenny) Scoates of Redwood Falls, Deborah (Mike) Disher of Burtrum; 15 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends.  He is preceded in death by his father Porter, mother Grace, brothers Gordon, Dale, Daryl, an infant sister, granddaughter Tera Gross, first wife Maxine, and second wife Virginia.