Carole Ann (Oderman) Whipple, 71, passed away November 12, 2013 in Helena. She battled breast cancer a few years ago and last spring she discovered that she had metastatic bone cancer. She suffered these last months and is now resting in peace with her Father in heaven. Carole was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister and friend. We will hold her in our heart with great love.
Carole was born February 5, 1942, in Great Falls, MT. Her parents were George and Palladia Oderman. They moved to Glasgow MT and that is where Carole was raised. She graduated Glasgow High School. She married Frank Hopwood in 1960 and they had 4 children. In 1980 she moved to Helena MT with US West Telephone Company. She lived there for a few years and then transferred to Salt Lake City, UT, where she worked and eventually retired from Qwest. In 2003, after the death of her oldest daughter, she moved back to Helena to live and take care of her two grandsons. She has been in Helena close to family and friends ever since.
Carole enjoyed many activities through the years. She was always actively involved in a pool league and has many trophies to prove her success, not to mention many friends met in the process. She was an avid reader and had accumulated a large library. Always ready to give advice on a good read. She loved playing cards and would always have a game going with her sister and brothers when they were together. She taught her grandchildren a multitude of card games and they always looked forward to playing with her. She had a weekly ritual of “out to lunch” and card games with her good friend Sharon. She enjoyed going to watch her granddaughters in dance, her grandsons in ball games, and going to plays and shows with her cousin Donna.
Carole has been a source of inspiration for her children and grandchildren. Holidays and birthdays were always a large family celebration and that tradition continues. She was always there for us with words of wisdom and common sense. She was strong in her faith and has passed that on to all of us. We are comforted by the knowledge that she has joined our lost family members in heaven and the celebration continues. We know she will be watching over us and living with us in spirit.
Carole was preceded in death by her parents, and her daughter Joni Tapp. Her survivors include: Daughters; Janet (Brad) Fisher, Janeen (Brad) Eckert, Julie (Rick) Kump, Grandsons; Cody Tapp, Kyle Tapp, Derrick Kump, Harrison Fisher, Wyatt Eckert, Granddaughters; Chelsea (Brett) Beery, Brianna Fisher, Emily Fisher, Katy Eckert, Deanna Kump, Hadley Eckert, Great grandchildren, Judith and Lennon Beery, her sister Linda (Jerry) Hoffort and her brothers Tommy Oderman and John Oderman. And many extended family and friends.
A Vigil Service will be held 6:00 p.m., Monday, November 18th at Retz Funeral Home Chapel, 315 E. 6th Avenue. A Mass will be held at 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 19th at the Cathedral of St. Helena, 530 N. Ewing Street, Helena. A reception will take place immediately following in the Brondel Center in the Cathedral. The burial will be 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 20th at the Highland Cemetery, 319 3rd Street South, Glasgow, Montana. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Carole.
Service Schedule
Vigil
6:00 p.m.
Monday November 18, 2013
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Ave.
Helena , Montana 59601
Mass of Christian Burial
12:00 p.m.
Tuesday November 19, 2013
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing Street
Helena , Montana 59601
Reception
1:00 p.m.
Tuesday November 19, 2013
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing Street
Helena , Montana 59601
Burial
9:00 a.m.
Wednesday November 20, 2013
Highland Cemetery
319 3rd Street South
Glasgow , Montana 59230
Service Schedule
Vigil
6:00 p.m.
Monday November 18, 2013
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Ave.
Helena , Montana 59601
Mass of Christian Burial
12:00 p.m.
Tuesday November 19, 2013
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing Street
Helena , Montana 59601
Reception
1:00 p.m.
Tuesday November 19, 2013
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing Street
Helena , Montana 59601
Burial
9:00 a.m.
Wednesday November 20, 2013
Highland Cemetery
319 3rd Street South
Glasgow , Montana 59230
Share
Jenny Dargan says
Carole will be missed dearly from our ladies Pool League. It wa s a pleasure getting to know her. Thoughts and prayers to her family in this time.
Barb Meyer Link says
Carole was my good friend during Glasgow school days. We had many adventures together, she was imaginative and daring! We both married at 18 and our first babies were born soon after and we really enjoyed being young moms together. In the last few years we lived far apart but talked a lot on the phone about our lives both past and present. I really treasure my long-time connection with her and will miss her dearly. She was some gal!
Ellen Kearns says
I was sorry to hear of your Mom’s, Sister, & grandmother. We had a lot of great times together
in Salt Lake and traveling to Arizona, bowling, & birthday parties. I’m sorry I lost touch with Carole. But my prayers are with you in this time. I had just learned she had cancer a little while back. I know she will be missed. She was very dynamic and was a big part of our lives.
Andree Larose says
Janet and family,
Henry and I send you our condolences. We were so sorry to hear of your Mom’s untimely passing – 71 is too young to lose your mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all your family.