Wayne Rippel

June 7th, 1945 - May 6th, 2026

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Wayne Rippel on May 6th, 2026. The last hours of his 80 years on this earth were spent performing trail maintenance in the Springbrook Acres Wilderness Area, a project on which he spent countless hours and which will continue to bring joy to many, thanks to his service. Wayne passed from a suspected cardiac event while he was attempting to free the bar of his chainsaw from a Black Hills Pine. We cannot imagine a more fitting end to his story.

Born to parents Harold and Beulah (Austin) Rippel in Wichita, Kansas, Wayne’s deep appreciation of the outdoors began in his youth. He thoroughly enjoyed his time spent in the Boy Scouts in Derby, Kansas, especially his time spent at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He would carry the lessons and skills he learned as a Scout with him the rest of his life. In 1994, he had the privilege of assisting in a Habitat for Humanity build in Eagle Butte, SD, alongside President Jimmy Carter. A public servant to his core, he served in the Air Force for 21 years, retiring in 1989 as a Major before settling in Rapid City, South Dakota and embarking on his second career as a science and math teacher for 16 years at both the Central and Steven’s public High Schools.

Wayne was married to his wife, Janet (Newcombe), on March 19th, 1968 under the gaze of the mountains in Denver, Colorado. They would go on to have three girls - Holly, Ronna, and Raina - two of whom would also adopt Rapid City as their home, often joining Wayne and Jan on hikes, bike rides, and canoe outings in the Black Hills. One of Wayne’s most cherished Boy Scout trips was canoeing in the untouched beauty of the Canadian Boundary Waters.

An accomplished carpenter and woodworker, Wayne spent his later years helping his children build their family homes; he spent subsequent years filling those homes with furniture from his workshop, heirlooms which his family will cherish and pass down for years to come. He was also involved with the Great Plains Native Plant society, and once put his carpentry skills to use helping reassemble an original 1800’s log cabin near Hermosa, SD. Wayne took great pride in the work he did as caretaker of the Springbrook Acres neighborhood, particularly the trail system which bears his hand-carved signs and benches, and the construction of two neighborhood maintenance garages. Even in his eighties, the answer to the question “Where’s Wayne?” was, more often than not, “in the woods with a chainsaw.”

He is survived by his wife, Jan, as well as two daughters, Holly of Rapid City, SD, and Raina of Venecia, PA, along with their spouses, Scott and Brandon; his siblings - Sharon, Stan, Le, Gary, and Bob, along with their spouses; seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Wayne was preceded in death by his middle daughter, Ronna, in 2025, but is survived by her husband Jeff of Rapid City, SD, and their two children.

The things we will miss about Wayne include, in no particular order: his sourdough pancakes, biking the Mickelson, canoeing on Deerfield Lake, enjoying an IPA in the backyard, his homemade warm cinnamon bread, his sneaky sense of humor, and his rare but genuine smile.

A memorial will take place later this September (details to come). Donations in his name may be made to Habitat for Humanity. We hope you will remember Wayne - husband, father, grandfather, steward of the forest, and friend to many - the next time you find yourself in the woods.

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt” -John Muir