Obituary of Ferdinand Martin Duppong

Ferdinand M. Duppong, 89, passed away peacefully at his home on August 26, 2014. He was born October 15, 1924 in Glen Ullin, North Dakota, the seventh of ten children born to Ferdinand and Anna Wagner Duppong. He grew up on the family farm and was educated in Glen Ullin schools. In March 1944, he joined the U. S. Navy and underwent basic training at Farragut Training Center in northern Idaho. After serving a short stint at Thermal Air Force Base near Indio, CA, he was shipped to Saipan, serving in active duty until his honorable discharge in May 1946. Returning to the family farm, he worked there for about five years then moved with his parents to Buhl, Idaho. He was married in Buhl on April 2, 1951 to Lorraine Gietzen and enrolled in carpentry training with the firm of Robertson, Joslin and Robertson. After several years, Ferdie and Lorraine moved to Richland, WA where Ferdie worked at Hanford for the Atomic Energy Commission. He was a talented craftsman and his skills and strong work ethic led him to the construction industry where he became a superintendent and was responsible for the construction of grain elevators, commercial buildings and potato storage buildings. He completed projects in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Canada. Ferdie cared deeply about his family and was proud and supportive of his six children. Being in the presence of a grandchild always made him smile. Ferdie is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lorraine of Buhl; children, Jerry (Cindy) Duppong of Redmond, WA; Rita Duppong of Fruitland; Carol Duppong of Buhl; Chuck (Liliana) Duppong of Rupert; Rick (Valerie) Duppong of Gooding; and Mike Duppong of Twin Falls; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Another great-grandchild is expected in October, which would really please Ferdie. He was always happy when a new family member was born close to his birthday. Also surviving are two brothers, Nick Duppong of Glen Ullin, ND and George (Gerrie) Duppong of Emmett, and a sister Anna Lutz of Mattawa, WA, as well as two brothers-in-law, Robert (Barbara) Gietzen of Buhl, and Jim Nipper of Connell, WA and one sister-in-law, Ruth Duppong of Quincy, IL and many nieces and nephews. Ferdie was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Math and John Duppong and sisters Clara Durfee, Alice Gietzen, Frieda Nipper and infant sister Eva. The family would like to express their deep gratitude and appreciation to Hospice Visions and Dr. Dan Nofziger for their care and support. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 5, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Buhl. Services are under the direction of Rosenau Funeral Home in Twin Falls. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Buhl Quick Response Unit.