Madison Anya Ripp

I, Madison’s Mom, am truly blessed and honored to be able to write Madison’s obituary. Madison had a dark sense of humor and used her cancer to her (and our) advantage. She loved to push the cringe factor. According to Madison, one of the advantages of dying from Stage IV metastatic melanoma cancer, metastasized to the brain, lungs, liver, bones and abdomen, is that it provided her with cringe worthy jokes and an endless amount of excuses for not doing the things she (or us) didn’t want to do. “Logan, you don’t want to take that test for college, tell them that your sister is dying of cancer.” - “If I want to eat an entire case of macaroni and cheese, you can’t tell me NO, I am dying of cancer.” - Her quick wit was unmatched. Madison was born in Hastings on August 30, 2001 and was baptized on March 17, 2002 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. She grew up in Grand Island, attended Grand Island Senior High, and graduated during the pandemic (2020), which she thought was amazing because she didn’t have to be around all those people. Madison went on to attend Hastings Community College, graduating with an Associate's Degree in Graphic Design in 2022. In her professional career, she worked for Moonlight Custom Screen Printing and Embroidery in Kearney and Sayler Screenprinting in Kearney. Due to time off for medical needs, she was unable to continue working. This gave her the time to play hours upon hours of Baldur's Gate, talk to her online friends, and to spend time with her cat, which eventually became cats, but we won’t get into that. Madison was a blessing to those around her and those who took the time to get to know her. Madison was always a fighter. She didn’t talk until she was almost 4, using sign language and pictures to communicate. After that, you couldn’t get her to stop talking! Academics came easily to Madison, but school was arduous. Her quirkiness and social anxiety made forming friendships difficult, and she never really felt like she fit in. She could have let this bring her down, but she absorbed herself into books, drawings, writing, and gaming. Madison was diagnosed with Melanoma three days after her 21st birthday in 2022. She took this with such poise. Surgery after surgery, treatment after treatment, doctor after doctor, Madison always held her head high, wearing that beautiful smile. The last year of Madison’s life was highly difficult. Despite the increasing pain and significant surgeries, she never once complained. Never once did she ask God, “Why me?” Every time she received bad news about how the cancer had spread, she would grab my hand and ask if I was OK. She was always worried more about me than the cancer affecting her body. This held to the very end. Madison decided to have her ventilator tube removed, so I didn’t have to make that decision. She was a true example of a warrior- courageous, resilient, and committed to protecting those who loved her most. She will always be my hero. Madison is survived by her mom, Shannon Ripp, and “Dad,” Richie Berggren, her siblings: sister, Aralei Ripp, brother, Logan Ripp, and “step-sisters,” Madeline and Lillian Berggren. As well as her maternal grandparents, LeRoy and Laurie Lierman, paternal grandparents, Richard and Barbara Berggren, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Also, her dear friends: Tim Ward, Caitlin Kidd, and Lennon Cook. Tim was the first person Madison wanted to share the good, the bad, and the ugly with. If there was a bad, cringeworthy joke to share, these two had a plethora to throw at one another. They had a true bond of friendship that Madison cherished greatly. Caitlin Kidd and Lennon Cook- they met by chance online and carried their friendship through the years- they supported each other through middle school ugliness, high school fun, boy/girl drama, a parent divorce, and Madison’s battle with cancer. I can’t thank you all enough for being there for her when I couldn’t be there. She saw you all as a gift. I am not sure that I believe everything happens for a reason or that there is a lesson to be learned in these dark times. What I do know is that Madison taught me many life lessons, including the importance of patience, unconditional love, and the value of selflessness. She taught me to appreciate the simple things in life and to embrace imperfection. She taught me what it means to be a warrior. She lived her life on her own terms. If you didn’t bring light to her life then she didn’t want you in it. Madison taught me how to be a better, more positive person, to stand strong in the face of adversity. My hope is that her memory will continue to inspire others to be more resilient, brave, and true to themselves. More than anything, I am honored God chose me to be her mother. Madison, you are my Warrior Angel, furiously protecting me and our family. Love you, Madison. Always and forever. Many thanks to Dr. Crockett and his nurses, Rebecca and Angie at Nebraska Cancer Specialists, for your medical expertise, your patience in answering questions, and the kindness you bring to each appointment day. Your strength and empathy bring comfort not only to patients but also to families navigating this path. You are more than healthcare providers—you are true healers. I am forever grateful for the role you played in our lives. I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Nurses at Bryan East Hospital on the 6th floor ICU, especially Madison, Marissa, and Neliegh, for the exceptional care, compassion, and dedication you’ve shown in Madison’s last days. Madison wasn’t just another patient; you treated us like family, decorating her room with skulls and red roses, playing her favorite music, talking to her constantly, and braiding her hair. Facing cancer is one of life’s most difficult challenges, especially when you know the end is near. You made all the difference in those last days.

Madison Anya Ripp

August 30, 2001 - June 1, 2025

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Madison Anya Ripp

August 30, 2001 - June 1, 2025

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

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About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

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