Kermit Carroll Hopkins

Carroll Hopkins, 83 was born in Sheridan, Wyo. November 5, 1929 and died April 6. His wife Betty, whom he married in 1954, survives him.

They were married for 59 years full of memories. They had two boys, Guy in 1955, (Eve) and Jay in 1957, (Sheryl) both living in Texas. As a child, Carroll’s parents moved to Ronan in the Round Butte area. He attended school in the lower grades, then went to high school in Ronan and graduated in 1948. During this period he was interested in raising Columbia sheep. He often won champion awards. He once won a trip to 4-H Congress in Chicago. Carroll (Hoppy) announced many rodeos including some after the Calgary Stampede when the “Big Time Cowboys” would come to Kalispell on their way south. Hoppy and Betty started the Dairy Queen in 1960 then a couple Laundromats. Hoppy kept busy by having trucks loaded with seed potatoes from the local farms and sent them to Washington, Idaho and Canada. He helped many people with his advice and financial assistance. The Blood Tribe of Canada had but a year or two to make use of the great Columbia River. With Hoppy’s assistance they got many of the requirements met that were needed in time to keep their water. Hoppy’s sons, Guy and Jay, were interested in training racehorses at a young age. He helped them get started. They continued, moved to Texas and are doing well. His sister Margalo (Bill) Christensen, numerous nephews and nieces, grandchildren, complete the wonderful family.