Olga Rippel

Olga Bechter Rippel was an amazing woman. She was intelligent and accomplished in many endeavors. She was a true Christian, seeking to be the best person she could be and to help others achieve their potential as well. Olga's life was one of service to others through church, school and civic organizations. She was possessed of endless drive and energy to accomplish her external goals while never failing to be there for her family at home. She loved to bake and her specialties included lebkuchen, cherry pie, peach cobbler and coffee cake. She was also a pet lover; dogs and cats were part of the family. When the children were old enough she went to work in the public schools and discovered a natural aptitude for teaching, first English then German, Spanish and business courses. She hadn't studied Spanish until she signed up to teach it, so she learned by staying a chapter ahead of the students! Her parents spoke German with her as a child growing up and when she traveled through Germany as an adult people mistook her for a native. She enjoyed reading books and magazines in German and Spanish long after retiring from teaching. Olga studied voice in college and continued to sing in the choir and play piano and organ all her life. After her retirement, Olga enjoyed her long-time interest in and study of antiques. She was a true lover of books and papers who loved a mental challenge and was fiercely competitive at cards, games and puzzles. She was a woman of many hats, both literally and figuratively and a lover of silver and turquoise jewelry. She was a lifelong learner, an Eisenhower Republican who eventually voted for Barack Obama twice. She believed in hard work and initiative and also in helping others get ahead. Olga Bechter Rippel, daughter of Paul and Margaret Weigand Bechter, was born Olga Charlotte Margaret Bechter, May 5th, 1922, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where her father was pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. She immigrated to the United States at the age of three and lived in Dallas, Texas, until the age of eleven. Her father was pastor of First United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dallas. The family then moved to Yoakum, TX where her father assumed pastoral duties at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church. After Olga graduated as valedictorian from Yoakum High School, she attended Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, TX for two years. At TLC, she studied voice and was a soloist with the choir. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in business and a major in banking (cum laude). She was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma honorary fraternity. In 1944 Olga married Karl Edward Rippel. Following Karl's discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1945 they lived in Austin, TX; Okmulgee, Oklahoma; Pasadena, Texas; Galena Park, Texas; and Borger, Texas. By this time they were the parents of three children: John, Margaret and Paul. In 1953 the family moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho. Both Olga and Karl were very involved in the Masonic Order in Idaho and Oklahoma. Among Olga's many affiliations were holding offices in the First Lutheran Church Women, Delta Kappa Gamma teachers organization, the Social Order of the Beauceant (past president), the Idaho Falls Gideon Auxiliary (past president), and Order of the Eastern Star. From 1962 - 68, the family lived in Bartlesville, Oklahoma where Olga taught business subjects and German at College High School. She was Sooner High School's first German teacher and was active in the office of Redeemer Lutheran Church and was a member of Bartlesville Order of the Amaranth. In 1968 the family returned to Idaho Falls. For the next 17 years, Olga taught at O.E. Bell Junior High, Central Junior High, Eagle Rock Junior High, and Skyline High School. She also worked in the Community Education program at Idaho Falls High School. While at Skyline, she taught typing and German and initiated the German-American Partnership Program, helping to introduce this program at other high schools in Idaho and Utah. She and Karl chaperoned groups of students on this exchange trip during a number of summers. During this time she was honored by being elected president of the Idaho Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German and president of the Idaho Association on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures. In 1976, she was named Foreign Language High School Teacher of the Year. For a number of years Olga served on the staff of the German Camp of the Pines near Ketchum, Idaho. Olga played the organ at First Lutheran Church from 1968-1998. Olga passed away May 26th in Idaho Falls. She and Karl are survived by their children: John of Santa Fe (Jennifer Johnson), Margaret Parrett of Dewey, OK; and Paul Rippel (Alexis) of Idaho Falls; nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Olga is also survived by her sister, Mrs. Elsie Audas of Boise, ID, and her brother, Paul Bechter (Sharon) of Colorado Springs, CO and many nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 16, 2018, at First Lutheran Church (455 W. Sunnyside) with a visitation from 10-10:45 a.m. prior.

Memorial Services will be held