Anna "Peggy" Margaret Ribbing

6-19-1922- 1-13-2026

Peggy (Anna Margaret) Ribbing was born on June 19, 1922, in Torrington, Wyoming. She was the beloved younger sister of Marybeth (Hurd) and the cherished daughter of Miriam Owens and George Dixon Anderson. Peggy deeply loved her Wyoming upbringing and the values of small-town life, which shaped her character and lifelong appreciation for community, hard work, and learning. Her father, a veterinarian, sparked her early curiosity and respect for education, encouraging her love of reading, study, and thoughtful inquiry—interests that guided her throughout her life.

Committed to fulfilling her passion for education, Peggy attended Colorado Women’s College, where she earned an associate’s degree, and then the University of Denver, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. She began her teaching career in Denver Public Schools at the start of World War II, a time of great need, which led her to step directly into the classroom—skipping traditional student teaching—and take on the responsibility of a third-grade class of 45 students. Peggy taught for 32 years at several schools in tge Denver School System, finishing her career in 1984 at Asbury Elementary School. She adored her career as an educator and left a lasting impact on generations of children. Teaching was never just a profession for her; it was a calling. Throughout her life, she fondly told stories of her students, remembering not only their names but also their parents, and spoke of the individualized learning plans she carefully created for each child.

On June 30, 1946, Peggy married the love of her life, Carl Arvid Ribbing Jr. Together, they built a life rooted in love, faith, and family. Peggy embraced her favorite role—being a mother—with the birth of her daughter, Laura Leigh, in 1952, and her son, Carl Arvid, in 1955. The Ribbing family made their home on South Williams Street in Denver, CO, where Peggy lived from 1950 until 2018, creating a place filled with warmth, learning, and lasting memories. Some of her most cherished friends were her lifelong neighbors.

Peggy was a treasured member of Augustana Lutheran Church for many years. Her faith was central to her life, and she especially loved singing in the church choir, sharing fellowship with her many dear friends, and fostering her love of books through the church library.

She found great joy in being a grandmother and lovingly taught her grandchildren—Marcy, Katie, Anne, Carl, and Justin—the importance of kindness, faith, and living a godly life. Her family was her greatest treasure.

In retirement, Peggy enjoyed traveling to visit her nieces and nephews, including trips to California and the Netherlands. She also nurtured a lifelong love of genealogy, which led her to visit Carl’s hometown in Sweden. A gifted writer, Peggy created beautifully written books of family trees so future generations could understand and appreciate their heritage. An avid reader, she was known to read a book a day during her retirement.

Peggy Ribbing will be remembered for her devotion to learning, her unwavering love for her family, her deep faith, and her remarkable ability to remember and care for others. Her legacy lives on through the many lives she touched—as a teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, and faithful friend.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Miriam and George Dixon Anderson; her sister, Marybeth Hurd; and her beloved husband, Carl Arvid Ribbing Jr.

She is survived by her loving family, including her daughter, Laura Whitney, and son-in-law Greg Whitney; her son, Carl Ribbing, and daughter-in-law Mary Ribbing; grandchildren Marcy and Zach Smith, Katie and John Hannigan IV, Anne and Josh Atherton, Carl and Megan Ribbing, and Justin and Kelly Ribbing; and her cherished great-grandchildren: Christine Hannigan, Cameron Hannigan, Cailea Hannigan, Noah Atherton, Makenna Smith, Ethan Atherton, Olivia Atherton, Nora Ribbing, and Louisa Ribbing.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Please contact Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery- Crownhill for details.