Twila Helen Dopp, 91

Twila Helen Dopp passed away Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, at her residence in Prestige Assisted Living in Kalispell.

She was 91 years of age at the time of her death.

Twila was born on June 13, 1926, in Helena to Iva and Fay Stott. She spent her early years at the Flathead Mine near Niarada where her father worked. There she attended a one-room school and formed several lifelong friendships with the other young residents. Later her family moved into Kalispell where Twila attended Flathead County High School.

Twila married the love of her life, William Richard Dopp, in Idaho on Aug. 7, 1943, while Bill was stationed at the Farragut Naval Base. Before long, Bill shipped out to the South Pacific as part of the World War II Naval force and Twila moved in with her parents in Kalispell. As was common with many war brides, Twila gave birth to their first child, Richard, while Bill was at sea, so Rich was 9 months old before Bill met his son. The young family settled in Kalispell where Bill ran one and eventually two Phillips 66 stations. Twila kept the books for both stations for 28 years while raising a family of eventually four children.

Many family memories where created at “The Cabin,” a small two bedroom cabin the family purchased on Echo Lake. Twila was always an enthusiastic participant in all of the lake activities, whether it was boating, water skiing, fishing and swimming during the summer, or sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating and riding the “Ice Carts” in the winter.

Twila was preceded in death by her husband Bill who passed away in December of 1999.

She is survived by her four children, Rich and his wife Josie who reside in Kalispell, Jim and his wife Patty of Manzanita, Oregon, Connie and her husband Keith of Stevensville, Montana, and Tim and his wife Barb of Meridian, Idaho. Twila will also be missed by her 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren living throughout the U.S.

Graveside service for Twila will take place at 10:30 a.m. today, Aug. 11, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family