The Rifenberg Life and Health Agency originated in 1939 when newlyweds Bud and Ruth Rifenberg moved to Niles from Three Rivers, Michigan.  Bud grew up on a dairy farm in Jones, MI and Ruth, a native of Lowell, MI, was a recent graduate of nursing school. 

The original name of the agency was "Rifenberg Insurance Service, because Bud viewed service as being so important, he wanted it in the name of his business.  The early years of the agency spanned the World War II timeline, and Bud had attempted to join the military three times, but had been rejected because of a broken back he suffered in a car accident.  To do his civic duty, he worked the second shift at Bendix from 1940-1944.  Ruth became the school nurse.

 They bought the old CITI-Services gas station on the corner of 8th and Main Streets in 1945, and built an addition to it in 1960.  The office still resides in that building.  Incorporated in the early sixties, it became Rifenberg Agency, Inc. and added two additional principal owners, Ed Barrett and Oliver Scott.  Bud's son Paul joined the operation in 1973 following his graduation from Western Michigan, and thus created the agency's first life and health department.

 Bud retired in 1979, and Paul sold the property and casualty part of the agency in 1992, preferring to specialize in just the financial services side of the industry.  As a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Paul re-named the business "Rifenberg Life and Health Agency."  He emphasized individual and business life insurance, individual and employer sponsored group plans, and individual Medicare plans, including both supplements and Medicare Advantage plans.

 He has served both his industry and community over the years, being the President of the local Rotary Club, and the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce.  He served on the Niles City Charter Commission, and on the Berrien County Board of Commissioners.  He was also on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI Agents Advisory Council.

 He and his wife Karen have eight children, and twenty-three grandchildren.  They are members of the Gospel City Church in Granger, IN where they teach a 1st and 2nd grade Sunday School class.