Don E. Rippetoe (Donnie) was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma on December 14, 1950, to Don and Donice Rippetoe and died at home in Cherokee after a long battle with cancer on March 8, 2024.
A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Strode Funeral Home Chapel in Stillwater, OK. Casual wear will be perfectly acceptable for the services as this is what Donnie would have worn. Please dress as you are most comfortable.
Growing up as a basketball coach's son, Donnie attended several smalltown Oklahoma schools throughout his youth, graduating from Fairview High School in 1969. That fall he enrolled at Oklahoma State University and became a legacy member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He spent the next 4 years making life-long friends while "studying" Philosophy.
In the mid 70's Donnie hitchhiked to California, settling in Yosemite National Park where he spent the summer with his paternal grandmother, Johnnie, while working at the Ahwahnee Hotel. The time he spent in Yosemite, while being relatively short, ended up being a major part of who he was, as did hiking the Tetons with friends.
In 1979, he married Christi Powell Romhild in Wichita, KS. They celebrated their wedding, then dined at the fine establishment of Wendy's. The newlyweds moved to Cherokee, OK to manage the Powell family farm. On December 13, 1980, one day before Donnie's birthday, their only child, Danielle Rae was born. He made sure to be present at every athletic and school event that Danielle participated in throughout her school years.
Over the next 30 years, he held various jobs in and around Cherokee, but what became his passion in life was learning the fine art of wood turning. Many of his pieces are owned by good friends and family, and even by complete strangers. He took great pride in his work and loved sharing it with the people he met at the various art shows he attended throughout the country. After being diagnosed with colon cancer and beginning chemotherapy in 2015, he sadly had to give up the craft he loved so dearly.
Donnie grew up in a house filled with all kinds of music, which resulted in his own lifelong passion for collecting and listening to albums. He always had music playing in the house or car. Among his favorites were The Beatles, Elton John, Van Morrison and various movie soundtracks. He eventually discovered the music of Shelby Lynne, who became, perhaps, his favorite of all time. After his father died, Donnie inherited hundreds of albums which filled the shelves in an extra bedroom. Eventually, he generously passed this collection on to a friend who would appreciate it as much as he had. Donnie enjoyed using his vast music collection to make mix tapes and CDs for family and friends. He loved to use a Beatles song to wake Danielle each year on her birthday, even after she moved out of the house.
During the final 17 years of his life, Donnie prided himself on being "Gramps" to his beloved grandchildren, Wyatt and Josselyn. Having been at the hospital on the day each of them was born, he was a consistent loving presence in their lives. He enjoyed cheering for them in sports as he had for their mom, as well as talking football with Wyatt and slipping Josselyn secret $10 bills even though Danielle had told him not to. They will miss their Gramps and hold him in their hearts for the rest of their lives.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Donnie is survived by his wife Christi, daughter Danielle Miller and husband Everett and 2 grandchildren, Wyatt and Josselyn; brother David and wife Sharon; sister Dee Richardson; sister Debbie Oliphant; Uncle Jerry and wife Jackie Rippetoe; and sister-in-law Shannon and husband Mike Chace; several Nieces Cassandra, Shea, Robyn, Mallory, Emily, Kari and Nephew Adam and their families.
Memorial Contributions may be made in Donnie's name to the following:
Cherokee Educational Foundation, 1103 Hadwiger Dr. Cherokee, OK 73728 or
Circle of Love Hospice, 314 S. 3rd St, Enid, OK 73701
Condolences may be sent to the family and an online obituary viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com