Valerie Kay Fischer of Merrifield, formerly of South Branch, passed away October 2, 2022, surrounded by her family and friends at Heartland Senior Living in Truman. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at St. John’s Lutheran Church South Branch, rural St. James. A time of visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, October 10, 2022, at Zaharia Family Funeral Home in Truman and continue one hour prior to the service. Zaharia Family Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences can be left and a livestream of the service can be viewed at www.zahariafamilyfuneral.com.
 Valerie was born on July 27, 1958, to Dean and Janet (Zufall) Hilpipre in Blue Earth. She attended East Chain and Granada schools, graduating in 1976 from Granada Huntley High School. She welcomed her first born daughter, Katie, in 1977 and resided in Fairmont. In 1984, her second daughter Leah arrived while residing in Jackson. Her only son, Darren, arrived in 1988. She gained three step-daughters; Rhonda, Renae, and Robin, when she married Richard Fischer on June 17, 1989, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in South Branch. They lived together and raised their children on the family farm. Valerie worked mostly in customer service, spending many years as a Night Auditor at Super 8 in St. James. Shortly after Richard’s death in 2011, Valerie moved up north, a place she loved and found peaceful. She worked as a Night Auditor at Breezy Point Resort up until her illness.
 Valerie loved to sing karaoke and dance. She was an avid coffee lover, enjoyed reading, coloring, and watching movies. Valerie was a sassy, fun loving, good time kind of women. She was the rock of the family. She would initiate the cousins picnic every year and stayed connected with family in Northern Minnesota, North Dakota and Washington. Valerie had a soft spot for her children and grandchildren, and so enjoyed her time with them. She was also an animal lover, especially her cat Dory. She was a huge Vikings fan and enjoyed dressing up to go out.
 Valerie will be missed by her father Dean Hilpipre (special friend, Ann Buchan), daughters, Katie McGuire, Leah (Tyler) Wagner, son Darren Hilpipre (special friend, Haylee VonHoldt), step-daughters Rhonda (Luke) Krueger, Renae Fischer and Robin Kathman, granddaughters Emma Fischer, Joanna Krueger, Avery Krueger, Veda Gehring, Alaris VonHoldt, grandsons Landon McGuire, Kyle Kathman, Clinton Krueger, Griffen Hilpipre, sister Debra (Edward) Kitson, brothers Darvin Hilpipre and Dennis (Darlene) Hilpipre, brother-in-law Marvin Fischer and sisters-in-law Gloria (Bill) Becker and Diane Wilcox (Dan), many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
 Valerie was preceded in death by her husband Richard Fischer, mother Janet Hilpipre, grandson Donovan Gehring, niece Michelle Kitson and son-in-law, Keith Kathman.