TRIPP, Donald

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ Wednesday, June 08, 2011 Donald Tripp was born Nov. 27, 1924 in Dora Lake, Minn., to Dan and Mabel Tripp. He passed away May 29 at his home in Lolo. He was the ninth child of 10 children. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Eva Luchau, Florence Kann, Olive Nicholas, Marjorie Kelly, Jeanette Ankeney and brothers Charley, Clarence, Eugene, and Harry. Don grew up in Minnesota and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He was discharged on Christmas Day in 1945. He served in World War II in the South Pacific. He married Vienna Johnson on July 26, 1946 in Grand Rapids, Minn. They had four children - Gary, Dave (Patty), Don Jr., and Jan (Ron) Henderson. Don enjoyed fishing, hunting, mining for gold, trap shooting, bird and elk hunting, traveling and spending time with family and friends. In 2010 he spent a month salmon fishing in Ketchikan, Alaska. He killed a five-point bull elk on opening day of elk season on his former ranch on Highway 12 in Lolo, Mont. Don built Don Tripp’s Truck Stop and Cafe in 1964, owned and operated Don Tripp Trucking, and had numerous other businesses in Lolo throughout the years. He was active in the Lolo Lions Club and was a lifetime member of the Elks Club. He was involved in building the Lolo Community Center, the first addition to the Lolo School, the Lolo Community Church as well as the Lolo Catholic Church. He was instrumental in developing the Lolo community in the 1960s and 1970s and was loved and respected by many. Don and Vienna spent winters since the early 1970s in Wickenburg, Ariz., with friends shooting trap on the winter circuit. Don had 14 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren. He had numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The funeral was held at Lolo Community Church on Friday, June 3. Memorials can be made to Teen Challenge, Box 573, Lolo, MT 59847 or Lolo Community Church, Box 1323, Lolo, MT 59847.