Elenore "Babe" Riphenburg

Elenore "Babe" Riphenburg, 90, of Strum, Wis., died September 6, 2013, at Strum Area Health and Rehabilitation. Elenore was born January 12, 1923, to Helge and Ellen (Johnson) Lundstrom in Virginia, Minn. Elenore graduated from Roosevelt High School in Virginia and the Virginia Junior College. Subsequently, she was employed by Ryan Aeronautical Corp. in San Diego, Calif., where she met her future husband. On February 22, 1944, she married Willard Riphenburg at a Lutheran church in Amarillo, Texas, with the Rev. J.H. Hartenberger presiding. Upon Willard’s honorable discharge from the U.S. Army Air Force, they lived in Sheldon, Wis., before moving to Strum in 1953 where they owned and operated Willard’s Building Center. During these years, Elenore was employed at Dr. L.R. Svoma’s dental office in Strum and Western Dairyland EOC, where she served as program director and eventually Assistant Director for the agency. Elenore was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Strum, where she taught Sunday school and Bible school, served as an Assistant Minister, lector, and held various officerships. Her family was of great importance in her life; and she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Elenore is survived by daughter Carol of Wheaton, Ill; a son, Lloyd (Stephanie Yukawa), of Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandsons: Dan Runty of Wheaton, Tom (Cathy) of Geneseo, Ill., Karl Runty of Daley City, Calif., and twins Jackson and Wilson Riphenburg of Boulder, Colo.; three great grandchildren: Connor, Violet, and Simon Runty of Geneseo; a brother, Lloyd (Joreen) Lundstrom, of Nevis, Minn.; a sister, Elaine Wilkens, of Pueblo, Colo; and several nieces and nephews. Elenore was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 52 years, Willard; a daughter, Joyce (Mike) Platt; a sister, Ethel (Ford) Lehman; a brother, Russell (Darlene) Lundstrom; and grandson, Nicholas Gerk. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 12, 2013 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Strum with Rev. K. D. Taylor officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery in Strum. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, or charity of choice. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elenore "Babe" Riphenburg, please visit our flower store.