Mary Lou Tripp, August 06, 1943 — May 11, 2019

Mary’s Obituary Mary Lou Tripp, wife of Ellis Tripp and mother to 6 children, 18 grandchildren and many great grandchildren, and an American mom to Mario Torres, who was a foreign exchange student in her home in the years 1978 and 1979, whom she was quite fond of, went to her heavenly home Saturday, May 11, 2019, with her family at her side. Mary was born in Minneapolis, MN August 6, 1943, one of five girls to Ted and Nan (Brown) Burkley. They moved to Watertown in her early years and her older sister, Jeanie passed away in an accident at the age of 7.

Her family then moved to Spearfish where she went to school. She met Ellis on April 5, 1958 at a skating rink in Spearfish, it was love at first site for both of them, they married December 16, 1960 in Belle Fourche. They started the business Ellis’ Enco, on August 4, 1964, which has since become E.T. Sports, where all of their children, and many grandchildren, are working.

They raised their children in Belle Fourche. Mary Lou was a loving, giving mother and wife, never complaining even when times were tough in their early days. She worked part time doing paper routes and babysitting.

She worked at the nursing home and was heavily involved in the Belle Fourche Ambulance Service and was director for many years. She was very proud of her family, her church, and her town, and did a lot of volunteer work in the community. She was Chamber President two terms and was also president of the Center of the Nation Business Association, which she started to help benefit Belle Fourche and its businesses.

In 1998, she was awarded the Spirit of Dakota Award, an award she felt very honored to get. She will be sorely missed by her husband Ellis of 58 years; children, Ellis “Elly” Jr. (Yvonne) Tripp, Michael “Mike” (Heather) Tripp all of Spearfish, Ricky Tripp and (Rhonda Reynolds), Misty (Burt) Enerson, Cheri Tripp and (Bob Symonds), Chris Tripp (Heidi Werlinger) all of Belle Fourche; a sister, Lillian Kondrick of Ballwin, MO, and foreign exchange student, Mario Ernesto Torres of Houston, TX, and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Nan; 3 sisters, Ruth McGoohan, Jeanie Burkley and Joan Dexter.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Kline Funeral Chapel in Belle Fourche. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 17 at 1:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints, in Belle Fourche. Interment will follow at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.

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