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Verda Ripperger - photo by Kelly Virden
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Verda Ripperger's reputation as an active volunteer at Good Samaritan Society-Care Center has earned her the nickname "Butterfly".
One of the residents calls her that because she never sits down.
And, with her volunteer work serving cake and pie, helping in the beauty shop, delivering mail, running Bingo, visiting residents, volunteering in hospice, and more, she's plenty busy.
Last year Verda volunteered around 600 hours at Good Sam. "She's part of our family here," said Activities Director Mary Welshons.
Verda initially began volunteering in 2001 through the Pine River Legion Auxiliary.
Her involvement grew from there. "I enjoy it," Ripperger said of volunteering at Good Sam.
Although she was born and raised in Taylors Falls, Minn., Verda has lived in the area for 14 years.
Her husband, Charlie, is also a volunteer at Good Sam.
"They're such a large part of our facility," Welshons said of the pair.
Verda is a proud grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of 10.
All those "grand babies" must come up in conversation with the residents that she visits with. "There are a lot of them that I know," Verda said of her interaction with residents at Good Sam.
"You get a lot of enjoyment out of it," she said of volunteering.
And, others enjoy Verda. "She's a valuable asset we have around here," said Good Sam employee Kathy Soukup, of Verda.
Verda and other Good Sam volunteers were honored, April 16, at Good Sam's volunteer appreciation banquet. Between the three Good Sam facilities in Pine River, there are more than 100 volunteers, Welshons reported.
To volunteer at Good Sam, contact Welshons at 587-5258.
