By HDN Staff
RALPH HOPKINS
Ralph K. Hopkins, 84, died Tuesday, March 6, 2001 at his home in Havre. He had suffered from heart disease and cancer.
A vigil service will be 7 p.m. Friday at St. Jude Catholic Church. Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Jude Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, concelebrated Fr. Robert D. Grosch and Fr. Pete Guthneck.
A luncheon will follow in the Knights of Columbus Hall.
Hopkins was born Feb. 18, 1917 in Lewistown to Roy and Hazel (Remington) Hopkins. He attended schools in Lewistown and graduated from Fergus County High School.
Hopkins attended the University of Nebraska from 1936-38 and then went to work for the First National Bank in Lewistown.
In 1941, he took a position with General Motors Acceptance Corp. in Great Falls, and in April of 1942 he married Barbara Baker in Lewistown.
The couple moved to Portland, Ore., where he was an electrician at the shipyards and then contributed to the World War II effort by serving in the Merchant Marines.
In 1945, he moved to Havre to become a partner in the Havre Electric Company. He left Havre Electric after 11 years to become the general business manager of the Chris Fuglevand Co., Inc., a position he held until 1967, when he left Havre to become the business manager of Guest House, a treatment center for alcoholic Catholic priests and brothers in Lake Orion, Mich.
He retired in 1979 and moved to Spokane, Wash., where he did volunteer work for Catholic Charities and the Spokane Area Council on Aging. In 1987, the Hopkins moved to Tucson, Ariz. They returned to Havre in 1994.
Hopkins was active in many church and youth organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, Havre Elks, Havre Lions and the Boy Scouts of America. He was an Eagle Scout.
The family also was involved in American Field Service and hosted an exchange student from India, Mangala (Maggie) Raje, for the 1964-65 school year. While in Michigan, the Hopkins became active in Worldwide Marriage Encounter and served as a team couple.
Hopkins enjoyed outdoor activities, including golfing, swimming and fishing. He taught contract bridge and enjoyed playing the game with friends. In his later years, he particularly enjoyed spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Hopkins of Havre; son, Tom Hopkins of Spokane; daughters, Sue Miller of Huntsville, Ala. and Marianne Hamilton of Havre; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Parish Center, St. Jude Catholic Church, 430 Seventh Ave., Havre, MT 59501.
