Justin Royce Talley Riippi was a light of immeasurable brightness, family and friends said Monday during a memorial service in Indian Hills.
Clever, funny, smiling and friendly, the handsome 20-year-old had the world by its tail on Jan. 11, when he suddenly became ill on a Greyhound bus in Wendover and died en route to a Salt Lake City hospital of spinal meningitis.
On Monday, more than 150 people gathered at the Hilltop Community Church to honor the musician, skateboarder and all-around good guy who was described as spontaneous, random, cool, loving and sweet.
Friend Josh Montes said Justin, "always had big plans for everything," which included a dream of inventing a solar-powered skateboard.
In a poem from cousin Nici Swanson, she said, "You've lived a life that has made us all proud."
Justin had only worked for Joe Joyner at Sierra Joe's Burgers for two weeks, but the spirited young man made a lasting impression.
Joyner said that during the job interview, Justin asked more questions about Joyner than vice-versa.
Then, after working two weeks, Justin didn't show up for three days. When he did return, Joyner recalled, Justin said he'd had to spend time with his grandfather.
"You just couldn't get mad at Justin," Joyner said.
Friend Mark Riesen said he and Justin had been "through thick and thin."
"Justin taught me to be a good human being," he said.
Riesen was with Justin on the bus when Justin fell ill. The two had been together in Denver selling magazine subscriptions door to door, Riesen said.
He recalled how at one home, the people were not interested in a subscription, but Justin talked music with them. When Justin and Mark left the house, Justin was carrying a guitar the stranger had given him. Mark invited Justin's friends to sign the guitar.
"He turned out to be the man that I always hoped he would be," said stepfather Larry Alexander.
- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.