Couple makes community home because of simple kindness

Christmas and the New Year’s seasons are wonderful times of year when people are extra kind and generous to others.
It’s a time when many consider their blessings and share the spirit of community with friends and strangers alike.
Residents of Imperial and the surrounding area are known to exhibit that kindness, not just during the holidays, but all year long.
A couple from Greeley, Colorado were the recipients of this community’s special kindness and it altered the course of their lives.
Dr. Lori Ripley, who is retired, and husband Dave, who goes by Rip, bought a rural home once owned by Mable Bernard of Enders.
The couple ended up here after Rip and a friend found themselves in a situation while traveling through Imperial.
Sometime in 2012, Ripley was helping a friend transport a large 6x6 military cargo truck from Colorado to eastern Nebraska.
The trailer they were using to haul the truck blew a tire just west of Imperial.
“We got that tire changed and continued on. After only two miles, we blew another tire,” Ripley said.
His friend took the two tires into Imperial and bought two new tires.
Once back on the road again,  they immediately blew a third tire on the tow vehicle which also caused damage to the vehicle itself.
“It was at that point I felt the Lord was trying to tell us something,” he said. “We couldn’t get more than a few miles from this little Nebraska town (Imperial).”
They managed to get their vehicles parked at T-Junction. Employees there were very kind to allow them space and time to leave the vehicles, Ripley said, offering to keep an eye on them while they solved the mechanical problem.
Their towing vehicle was taken to Harchelroad Motors for repairs and the parts were ordered.
In the meantime, Harchelroad’s customer service personnel took them to the Imperial Inn.
“Their customer service was impeccable,” Ripley said.
That evening, the stranded travelers wanted to order some food delivered. Instead, someone from Imperial Inn gave them a ride to Pizza Hut to get food.
“None of these people knew me from Adam’s brown mule, yet they welcomed us with open arms,” he added.
He said every person they interacted with in the community took care of them and treated them with kindness.
“You have a choice when you come across a stranger on how you will treat them. I’ve never been around so many nice people in one place,” he said.
After the repairs to the tow vehicle were done, it was time to move on. But a local farmer who had a large flat bed trailer volunteered to haul the large military truck the rest of the way for them.
A God thing
Ripley said everything in him told him it was a God thing—who didn’t want him to go past this town and area.
“I called Lori and said, ‘I know where we want to live the rest of our lives’,” he continued.
Lori looked online right away to search for property in this area and found Mable’s place, said Ripley.
 They bought the property, and between 2012-20, they traveled here once a month in the winter and twice a month each summer to slowly fix up the home and property.
“This place became our refuge,” said Lori, “and in August 2020, we moved here permanently.”
Both Ripleys grew up in small towns 18 miles apart in South Dakota, and they were high school sweethearts, said Ripley.
“It didn’t bother us at all moving to a small town area again,” he said.
During the years they drove back and forth, Lori covered calls at Chase County Community Hospital on weekends from time to time, she said.
She is now retired after 25 years in medical practice.
She works with her husband in his two businesses doing the technical leg work with marketing and promotions.
“She’s my ‘CEO’,” he smiled.
His main business for over 25 years has been pinstriping, lettering, cartoons, designs and images, all painted by hand on cars, horse trailers, golf carts, motorcycles—all kinds of things—even toilet seats.
“I personalize for people by illustrating their interests and personalities on objects of their choice,” he added.
He said he has some of his work in the Smithsonian Institute on display.
Their business can be found at pinstripes.com, on Facebook or call 970-302-9111.
Ripley  has a second business called Good Life Gun Training.
He has been an NRA instructor for several years and holds classes for obtaining concealed carry certification and basic gun handling.
Ripley has an outside and inside gun range on their property. He plans to add classes for advanced gun training which goes beyond firearm safety.
“I believe in good training to carry a weapon,” he said.
Lori has her concealed carry permit and helps with logistics in the business.
“I feel like it’s important to know how to handle a weapon,” she said.
“Females are often usually better shots because they haven’t developed as many bad habits,” said Ripley.
Ripley also works as a dispatcher for the county.
The Ripleys have two sons, age 26 and a 17-year-old senior who attends high school at Dundy County Stratton.
Lori’s 93-year-old mother also lives with them.
The Ripleys are very happy living here and being part of the community, they said.
“We’re home and don’t ever want to move, and we have great neighbors,” said Lori.