Richard “Dick” Whipple was born October 26, 1940 in Rosebud, SD to Alex “Bob” Whipple and Carrie (Coleman) Whipple who both preceded him in death. He was the youngest of five siblings.
He married the love of his life, Charlotte McBride, in Holy matrimony March 16, 1958 at the Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, Parmelee, SD. They spent 66 years building a life together on their ranch in Parmelee, SD.
Dick and Charlotte raised three daughters and a son together on the ranch, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his children and grandchildren. His love for them has no earthly bounds.
Dick was born to be a rancher, and in his younger years enjoyed spending his summers on the rodeo trail with his brother Buddy and dear friend Bad Waln. In the colder months he enjoyed coyote hunting with dear friends Rocky Tibbs and Alan Amiotte. He loved to visit and tell stories from times back when life was simple. No matter what path in life he took, he made friends far and wide ,and too numerous to name.
Dick was raised with a strong work ethic and family values. He drew his strength from family; and family was the most important thing to him. He ensured he instilled those values into his children so that they would do the same with his grandchildren and great grandchildren ensuring that all the love he gave and lessons taught to them would never end.
Dick was preceded in death by his sisters, Betty RedOwl and June Whipple; brothers Bud (Wilma) Whipple and Stan (Marlene) Whipple. He was their baby brother and they fondly called each other brother or sister never using their given names. Dick was more than an uncle to his nieces and nephews and he took great pride in being the father/grandfather figure for entire family after the passing of his siblings.
Dick is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Charlotte Whipple. His three girls Leota (Mike) Colombe, Natalie (Steve) Bordeaux, Melissa Whipple (Sonny Farmer, life partner), and his son Alec (Nikki) Whipple; grandchildren, Shane (Michelle) Colombe, Jessica Colombe, Jenna Whipple-Riley, and Keith Whipple Riley; great grandchildren, Alex, Gerald, and Lahela Whipple, Macy, Tre, and Mireya Colombe; great great grandchildren, Conner and Presley.
Funeral service for Richard H. Whipple, age 84 of Parmelee, SD was Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at the Bishop Harold Jones Building in Mission, SD. The burial followed at Holy Innocents Cemetery in Parmelee, SD. Wake service was Friday, April 4, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., at the Bishop Harold Jones Building in Mission. Mr. Whipple passed away on March 28, 2025, in Sioux Falls, SD. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine was entrusted with service arrangements.
