Forrest “Bill” William Tripp, Jr., age 64 of Redwood Falls, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Golden Living Center in Wabasso. Memorial services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 12 at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of services on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.  Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Forrest “Bill” William Tripp, Jr. was born April 12, 1948 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Forrest W. and Barbara (Kingery) Tripp. He moved to Redwood Falls with his family in 1961.  Bill graduated from Redwood Falls High School in 1966. He furthered his education at the University of Minnesota at Crookston. Bill enlisted in the US Navy in 1968 and served until he was honorably discharged in 1971. He then returned to Redwood Falls to work in the family business, Tripp Oil Company.  Bill married Donna Tiffany in 1975 and together they had and raised two daughters, Erin & Claire.   Bill retired in 2002.  Bill loved his family, his horses and his dogs.  He was active in the Minnesota High School rodeo and was the 1964 state High School Rodeo Steer Wrestling Champion.  He excelled in basketball in high school and was a lifelong high school basketball fan.  Bill supported his daughters in all that they did.  He spent countless hours taking his daughters to horse shows and trail rides and was a member of the Redwood Valley Saddle Club and the Prairie Wind Riders Saddle club. He was also an active team roper and believed that “no hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle”.  Bill enjoyed nature and pheasant hunting with his dogs and daughter Claire. He cherished the time he was able to spend with his grandchildren.   Bill will be remembered as an honest and loving friend and father.

Bill is survived by his daughters: Erin (Mike) Halverson of Owatonna and Claire Nelson (Curt Meyers) of Morgan; grandchildren: Nadia Nelson, and William & Owen Halverson; sisters Susan (Larry) Gilb of Grand Junction, CO, and Priscilla (Steve) Klabunde of Redwood Falls. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Tony (Kerry) Gilb, Stephanie (Gary) Nieman, Kirsten Gilb (Gretchen Nies), David (Gina) Klabunde, and Jaclyn Klabunde. He is preceded in death by his parents.