Dennis Vipond

Dennis (Denny) Vernon Vipond was born on September 26, 1944 in Herman, Minnesota into the family of Lester and Anna (Miller) Vipond. He was baptized and confirmed in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Herman and graduated from Elbow Lake High School in 1963.

In 1965 Denny was drafted into the United States Army. He completed his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort Lewis, Washington prior to being deployed to Vietnam. He finished his tour in November, 1968 at Helemano Military Reservation in Hawaii. Denny valued this service to his country immensely and was an incredibly proud veteran.

On May 19, 1972 Denny married Faye Borgeson at United Methodist Church in Herman, Minnesota. To this union, four children/dishwashers were born. Denny and Faye proudly owned and operated Denny’s Café in Herman for forty-two years. Denny was well-known behind the counter for his quick wit, shaking (and usually winning) dice with his favorite patrons, his booming laugh, handing out free suckers to every kid regardless of parental permission, and his ability to prove time and time again that the customer is not actually always right. Denny retired in 2012 and spent his retirement doing exactly what he wanted to do whenever he wanted to do it.

Denny was a lifelong resident and huge supporter of the Herman community. He was an active member of the American Legion and Herman Beautification Committee, with the Christmas tree recently displayed in the heart of downtown Herman being his proudest fundraising accomplishment. Denny loved his family, his friends, his country, clean windows, handing out money to his grandkids, Christmas and birthdays, the color yellow, watching his big T.V., ice cream, happy hour on his patio, and dancing. His brothers were his best friends.

On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, Denny passed away at St. William’s Living Center in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota surrounded by his loving wife and four children. He was seventy-seven years old.

Denny is survived by his wife, Faye; four children: Lisa Vipond of Plymouth, MN; Jill (Jon Veldhouse) of Plymouth, MN; Hayley (Bryan Munsell) of Orono, MN; and Tony Vipond of Herman, MN; and six grandchildren: Kennedy, Madeline, Maxwell, Henry, Abigail and Joseph. Denny was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Anna Vipond; one sister, Mildred Gulbrandson; and seven brothers: Donald, Stanley, Dale, Kenneth, Lester, Richard and Robert.

Funeral Services will be held Sunday, August 7, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. at the Herman Community Center in Herman with Rev. Chris Richards officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the Herman Community Center. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Herman. Military Rites will be provided by the Walter C. Larson Post #378.

In lieu of thank you notes, the family will be making donations to The Richard M. Schulze Family American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Minneapolis and Lakeside Cemetery in Herman.