Ferd J. Wipf, age 98, of Huron, passed away Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Avantara – Huron.

His funeral service was held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, October 31 at Mount Olivet Church. Burial followed in the Ideal Cemetery. His service was live-streamed.

View Ferd's Funeral Folder

Visitation was held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials may be directed to Mount Olivet Missions Fund or Construction Fund.

Ferdinand "Ferd" Jacob Wipf was born on September 17, 1926, (or September 16 if you look at his birth certificate), to Sam K and Lydia (Tschetter) Wipf on the family farm, north of Huron, South Dakota. He was the first-born son, but sixth child born in a family of 12 children, with another sister who died in infancy. The family attended Fairfield Mennonite Church near their farm, where Ferd was baptized on November 14, 1943.

Ferd attended Fairfield #4 country school and later Yale and Huron High School. During the war, he served in the Civil Public Services in Terry Peak, Montana and eventually at the Oregon Government hospital in Roseburg, Oregon.

On December 12, 1948, he married Helen Marie Wallman. They farmed north of Huron for four years before moving to Huron, where Ferd took a job at Lawson Plumbing, working for 38-years.

Ferd and Helen had four children. Gerald Dean (1949) and Twila Marie (1953) who tragically passed away as infants; as well as Sandra Kay (1951) and Jeffrey James (1962).

For over 60-years Ferd and Helen were active members at Mount Olivet Church in Huron. His faith and love of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was very important to him throughout his life.

Ferd enjoyed bowling with co-workers from Lawson Plumbing and he played slow-pitch "kitten-ball" softball for many years on church league teams, excelling as a pitcher. He was proud of winning the church league championship with Mount Olivet, playing alongside his son, Jeff and several nephews and nieces. Ferd enjoyed attending various sporting events, especially following Minnesota sports teams. Baseball was his favorite.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Katherine Wipf (infant), Ruby Kleinsasser, Evelyn Maas, Susie Pullman, Anna Friesen, Lily Kern, Betty McBride and Lorraine Kleinsasser; his brothers, Samuel, John, and Clifford; and many nephews, nieces, in-laws and other relatives.

He is survived by his brother, Peter of Harrodsburg, Kentucky; his daughter, Sandra (John) Fleming of Huron and their son, Troy (Teri) Fleming of Sioux Falls and their children, Gabriel, Seth (Kendra), Paxon, Bryn and Sellek; his son, Jeffrey (Erin) Wipf of Apple Valley, Minnesota and their children, Andrew (Kelsey) and their soon-to-be-born son, Jordan (Michelle), Zachary, Lydia and Isaiah; and many nephews, nieces, in-laws and other relatives.