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CROSBY -- Donald George Tripp, 90, of Longville passed away Friday, March 6, 2020, with his loving wife by his side, at Cuyuna Regional Medical Care Center, in Crosby, Minn.

Donald was born June 14, 1929, in Ames, Iowa to George David and Mabel Alice (Kitchen) Tripp. When he was seven years of age his mother and her unborn child died of pneumonia. His grandmother Alice Myrtle Tripp and his aunt Mary Tripp stepped in to help George raise Don. Donald graduated in 1947 from Napier Consolidated High School, in Napier, Iowa. He enlisted in the Army National Guard on Oct. 20, 1947, and reported for training in 1948 at Fort Riley, Kan. He served as a Wireman until the time of his honorable discharge on Oct. 19, 1951.

Don married Deloris Camp on Nov. 26, 1949 in Boone County, Iowa. Together they raised two children, Brenda and Donnie in Boone, Iowa. Don worked as a driver for Ames Reliable delivering feed from 1947 until 1959. He then went to work for John Deere. He retired from John Deere in 1987.

Sometime during the 1970s they began towing a camper to Evergreen Lodge on Woman Lake, where he developed a great deal of enjoyment casting a line and reeling in those Woman Lake walleyes. Eventually he bought a fifth wheel camper and became a seasonal resident at Evergreen Lodge RV park.

Don met the second love of his life in Longville. Donald married Mary (Zaffke) Putnam on Feb. 27, 1999 at the Longville Community Church. In 2000 he came out of retirement to serve as a maintenance worker in Longville. This job was offered to him as an opportunity to spend his days riding an old, familiar green and yellow tractor caring for the lawns owned by the city. He finally retired once and for all in 2010. His days were then filled with bird feeding, gardening, canning, making wine, playing guitar, spinning tales of days gone by with family and friends, playing card and dice games, and becoming a dog's best friend to Bruno.

He was a member of Longville Community Church where he served as a Deacon for a few years.

Donald was preceded in death by his mother, his father and step-mother, Helen Tripp; his wife, Deloris in 1996; daughter, Brenda Jensen; several step-siblings; his in-laws, Bob and Carol Kline, Jerry Zaffke; and his dear friend, Bruno.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Tripp, of Longville; son, Donnie Tripp, Garrison, N.D.; step-children, Gretchen (Nate) Wolske, of Longville, Josh Putnam, of Longville, and Sara Putnam (Ryan Watson), of Walker; grandchildren, Jeri Lynn (Katie) Kane, of Apple Valley, Minn, Kelly Jensen, of Beaman, Iowa and Chloe Wolske, of Longville; great-grandchildren, Connor Jensen, also of Beaman, and Jordan Jensen, of Marshalltown, Iowa, Jack Oswald, of Apple Valley; and several extended family members.

A memorial service was held on Monday, March 16, 2020, at the Longville Community Church, officiated by Rev. Duane Brown. Inurnment will be at Riverside Cemetery, in Longville.

Memorials may be directed to Longville Community Church, PO Box 183, Loongville, MN 56655.

Don's family would like to express deep gratitude to the loving and caring staff at CRMC Care Center for treating him like a king for the past three years. It was comforting to know how well he was cared for.[[In-content Ad]]

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