Erma H. Hoppe, 89
Erma H. Hoppe, 89, of Whitefish, 'went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ' on June 4, 2008. She passed away as a result of congestive heart failure. She resided at Colonial Manor for the past year.
Erma was born in Sherwood, N.D., on a rural farm southwest of town on Nov. 9, 1918. She was the youngest of six children born to Wilhelm and Hannah Schwabe. She attended Prosperity Elementary School and graduated from Sherwood High School in May of 1937.
That fall she entered Trinity Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in the fall of 1940 and then received her registered nursing degree through the state board exams. She was employed at Trinity Hospital before joining her classmates, who were employed at Deaconess Hospital in Havre.
She was married to Bill Hoppe on March 4, 1942, in Havre. Two weeks after their wedding, Bill was inducted in the Army. He joined Erma and the family after being discharged from the Army at the end of World War II and they continued to live in Havre until they moved to Martin City in July of 1946.
Erma loved her flower gardens and many passing by would have to stop and admire them. She was well known in the canyon for her Hoppe's poppies. She loved to participate in square-dancing activities and picked many huckleberries over the years.
When the new highway was built through the canyon, the state bought their property and in 1974 they moved to Whitefish.
Erma worked at Colonial Manor as the director of nurses from 1973 to 1979.
She was an active member of the Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod, having been a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls for the past 51 years. She taught many years of Sunday School and held Bible studies in her home. Her Christian faith was of great comfort to her and she witnessed to many.
She took up oil painting beautiful landscapes upon her retirement and was also skilled at all types of needlework. Over the years she made dozens of stocking hats and mittens for children in need in the Flathead. She held a weekly sewing club in her home for years, with her friends. Family members and friends were the lucky recipients of her beautiful work.
Erma is survived by a son, Bill, and daughter-in-law, Peggy, of Columbia Falls; daughter, Janet, and son-in-law, Jim Cash, of Missoula; son-in-law, Darol Longacre, of Frenchtown; granddaughter, Gail Baker; grandson, Stephen Megaard, and wife Cassie; and great-grandchildren, Tyler and Brittney Webb, Kali and Alex Baker, Austin and Megan Megaard; two brothers-in-law, Frank of Havre and Walter of Spokane; sister-in-law, Ethel Schwabe, of North Dakota; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Marcia Longacre; granddaughter, Marie; and siblings, Louie, Minnie, Chris, Hans and Lillian.
A memorial service will be held for Erma at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 14, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls, with Pastor Matt Nelson officiating.
The family suggests memorials be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 2005, Columbia Falls.
Austin Funeral Home and Crematory of Whitefish is caring for the family.