William F. 'Bill' Hoppe
William F. "Bill" Hoppe of Whitefish, "went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005. He passed away as a result of congestive heart failure at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.
Bill was born in Havre, on Feb. 6, 1919. He was the oldest of six children born to Carl and Elizabeth Hoppe. He attended schools in Havre and worked in his father's coal mine and on construction, until he was inducted into the Army and served in the European conflict.
He is survived by his wife, Erma. They were married on March 4, 1942. Two weeks after their wedding, Bill was inducted in the Army and was sent to Camp Cooke, Calif. He served with the Fifth Armored Division, driving a half-track.
From Camp Cooke, he was sent on maneuvers in Tennessee. He was then transferred to Pine Camp, N.Y., and embarked for Europe from Indian Town Gap, Pa., in February of 1943. He took part in the invasion of Germany and received an honorable discharge as a staff sergeant in June of 1945.
He joined his family and they lived in Havre, until they moved to Martin City, in July of 1946. They lived there while Bill worked at the local lumber mills. In October of 1974, Bill and Erma moved to Whitefish.
He had always been an avid hunter and fisherman and was well known for his success in both. He loved nature and wildlife and got great joy out of feeding the ducks and geese in front of his home on the Whitefish River.
Bill was an active member of the Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod and had been a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church for the past 48 years. His Christian faith was of great comfort to him.
He worked at Superior Lumber Company from 1960-1984 as the set-up man.
Following his retirement, he delivered Meals on Wheels from 1984-98 and did this service with great pleasure.
Bill is also survived by a daughter, Janet, and son-in-law, Jim Cash, of Missoula; a son, Bill, and daughter-in-law, Peggy, of Columbia Falls; son-in-law, Darol Longacre, of Frenchtown; granddaughter, Gail Baker, and husband, Chan; grandson, Stephen Megaard, and wife, Cassie, and great-grandchildren, Tyler, Brittney, Kali, Alex, Austin and Megan; two brothers, Frank of Havre, and Walter of Spokane; a sister, Helen Murphy, of Centerpoint, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Marcia Longacre; granddaughter, Marie; and brothers, Robert and Carl.
A memorial service will be held for Bill at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls with Pastor Terry Forke officiating.
The family suggests memorials be made to the American Heart Association or Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Austin Funeral Home.