Leann Tripp

LeAnn Gaye Bursau was born on May 5, 1965 in Minot, ND, the daughter of Nancy (Carlson) and LeRoy Bursau. She lost her long, courageous battle with Lou Gehrig?s disease on Monday, August 6, 2012 at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford, ND.

While growing up in Minot, LeAnn attended Longfellow Elementary School, Jim High Junior High School and Minot High School.

LeAnn was blessed with five children throughout her life--Amber in 1981, Andrew in 1984, Ashley in 1987, Allison in 1989 and Alexis in 1993.

In November 1981, LeAnn married Leonard Fettig, Jr. They later divorced.

Throughout the years, LeAnn worked various jobs to include being a prep cook at the Holiday Inn in Minot, daycare provider, certified nursing assistant, home health aide and most recently at Cavendish Farms in Jamestown. Ill health forced her to stop working in 2010.

LeAnn married Randy Tripp in October 2009.

LeAnn was a fun-loving, happy go lucky person, who enjoyed shooting a game of pool, throwing a game of darts, going fishing and hunting when she had the chance, driving the back roads of the North Dakota countryside and shooting the breeze over a beer with good friends.

In 2010, LeAnn was diagnosed with Amyiotrophic Lateral Scelerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig?s Disease. Throughout her courageous battle with this debilitating disease, and to her very last days, LeAnn maintained her feisty, spunky personality, wit and sense of humor. She handled her diagnosis and disease and the subsequent loss of freedom that came along with ALS with dignity and exemplified courage as she slowly lost her ability to be independent. Throughout her illness she taught us the importance of enjoying each moment in this life, cherishing each experience and each day we are given, the healing power in asking for forgiveness and learning to forgive and move forward. LeAnn may not have been perfect; nobody is. Underneath it all, she was a kind-hearted, caring person, a good friend, would always help a person in need if she was able, and always pulled for the underdog. In the end it is these things that truly matter, not the imperfections. Rest in peace, LeAnn, your memory will live on in our hearts forever.

Grieving her loss are the loved ones she leaves behind: her husband, Randy Tripp; Pettibone, ND; daughters Amber (Dan) Noone, Great Falls, MT; Allison (CJ) Reisenauer, Mandan, ND; Alexis Shelby, Pettibone, ND; son, Andrew (Kayla) Fettig, Ft. Jackson, SC; mother, Nancy Bursau, Robinson, ND; father and step-mother LeRoy and Yvonne Bursau, Minot, ND; sister, Denise Kurtzman and her son, Jonathan, Santa-Maria, CA; brothers, Patrick Bursau, Robinson, ND; Jason (Tracy) Bursau, Minot, ND; step-daughter, Brittany (Brady) VenHuizen, Jamestown, ND; step-sons, Brandon (Jess) Tripp, Jamestown, ND; Jordan Tripp, Steele, ND; mother-in-law, Esther Tripp, Jamestown; grandchildren, Michaelyn and Brady Noone; Isabella and Sienna Fettig, Hailey and Austin Weisz; Ziarah Reisenauer and baby-on-the-way Reisenauer; and step-grandchildren, Kylie, Breckin, Braden, Bryson, Layton, Jersey, Aeralynn, Jorgen, Klaire, Jeryca, Grayson and two-on-the way.

Waiting for her on the other side is her daughter Ashley, who predeceased her in 1994 and her step-daughter Carissa Tripp, who predeceased her in 2011; also her grandparents, father-in-law, Marlin "Mike" Tripp, brother-in-law, Keith Tripp, and special friend, Marlys Harr.