Bernice (Solheim) Hopkins, 88

Bernice (Solheim) Hopkins passed away peacefully on Nov. 2, 2010, at The Springs Memory Care Unit in Missoula, from natural causes and advanced dementia. She was born in Dooley to Andrea and Bert Solheim on May 1, 1922, one of four children. She completed grade and high school in Dooley and after graduation attended Northern Montana College and Kinman School of Business. She traveled to the West Coast as a young woman seeking employment in the Bremerton Shipyards during World War II, finding her skills were needed in the bookkeeping department more than a Rosie the Riveter, as she had hoped. She would sometimes put plans over her arm and go down in the shipyards pretending she had business with the construction departments just to get a feel for the excitement teeming there. On her return to Plentywood, she met and married Francis Hopkins. Bernice lived happily as Fran s wife and companion until his death in 1990. During their marriage they spent most of their time in Libby, where Fran worked for St. Regis Lumber Co., and Bernice as a tax consultant, journeying to Plentywood to help harvest family wheat land each summer and enjoying other summer weekends at Boisvert s on McGregor Lake. After Fran s retirement, they moved to Polson and their Flathead Lake home to be nearer their children and grandchildren. Following Fran s death, Bernice moved to Kalispell in 1991, residing there until 2000, then relocating to Flathead Lake, residing in her own apartment in the home of her son, Ron, where she loved watching the evening sailboat races on the lake and thought they looked like hankies dropped on the lake. Her favorite times were those spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always loved to be at the party, but never cared to be the center of attention. Her quiet Norwegian upbringing fostered a sense of dignity and reserve with a wonderful sense of humor, which she exhibited to the end, even though her body was failing. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Riley; sons, Ron Hopkins and wife, Kay, and James Hopkins and wife, Louise; and sister and brother-in-law, Luella and Max Pedersen. Her pride and joy were her grandchildren, Ryan, Kristin and Lindsay Hopkins, David and Cheryl Hopkins, and Jeremy, Christal and Brandi Riley; and her five great-grandchildren. At her request, cremation has taken place and there will be no services at this time, but a memorial service will be held at a later date. The family wishes to express their appreciation for the excellent care during her stays at Wel-Life Assisted Living in Kalispell and The Springs Memory Care Unit in Missoula. They also request in lieu of flowers that anyone wishing to honor Bernice s memory appreciate the beautiful state in which we live, the harvest lands of the east and the lakes and forestlands of the west.