Mark Hopkins has found peace. He passed away Wed. Oct 27, 2010 at the age of 94. Since the death of his beloved wife Mary 2 years ago in November, his wish had been to join her. They are now together forever. They were married for 68 years.
Mark was born August 4, 1916 to Mark and Vina Hopkins in the old St. Peters Hospital. Their home was at 624 N. Warren Street. He attended Central Grade School, Helena High School on Warren St. and the Aeronautics School at the Helena Airport. He graduated in 1935.
He worked for the Forest Service in Lincoln District on the Granite Butte Lookout from 1939 – 1940. He met Mary Grantier who lived in Lincoln on the Stonewall ranch. They were married on Friday September 13, 1940 in Kalispell, Montana. They moved to San Diego, CA in the spring of 1941. Daughter Connie was born August 19, 1942. They returned to Lincoln in 1944 buying their first home.
He joined the Merchant Marines in 1944. He saw Pearl Harbor, Guam, Calcutta, Australia and New Zealand to name a few, ending by going through the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington State seeing snow on the beaches. While being in Hawaii on Waikiki Beach, the only hotel there was the Royal Hawaiian. Honolulu was just sugarcane fields. He returned to Lincoln in 1946 and went into partnership with Sid Hendrix and Jim Ellis in the Bear Gulch sawmill until 1948.
Daughter Laura was born July 9, 1948. He worked in mills and the woods until 1954. That year, he started working for Montana Highway Dept. as a surveyor, retiring in 1981.
The family moved to Missoula, MT. in 1958 and finding their permanent home in Helena in the valley in 1960. They resided there until Mary’s death in 2008. He then moved to Hunter’s Point Retirement Home. His last place of residence was Cooney Nursing Home.
He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to walk, hike and hunt in Montana. He took pride in his home and yard and family. He had an infectious smile and touched many lives. If you had the time he could fill it with many interesting life stories.
Preceding him in death were his parents and a sister, Lavina Rains of Townsend, MT.
He is survived by daughters Connie Cooper of Lincoln, MT and Laura (Jim) Copeland of Montesano, WA, 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 16, at 11 a.m. for Mark S. Hopkins Jr. in Lincoln. He will be buried with his wife, Mary, who died Nov. 6, 2008. They were married for 68 years. Please arrive by 10:30 a.m.at the Lincoln Community Center and a decision will be made if road conditions improve to the Old Lincoln Gulch Cemetery. Both the memorial service and the celebration of life luncheon may be held at the Community Center.
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
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Kevin R. Grantier says
I sure loved listening to Mark and my dad talk about the old days and their hunting trips. I always enjoyed seeing Mark and Mary when they came to the ranch.
Sandy & Arthur says
We were next door neighbors to Mark and Mary for over 50 years, they are the best people you could ever meet! We will miss Mark very much.
Virginia Horner says
The family of Virginia Horner would like to extend their deepest sympathy to the family of Mark Hopkins. Virginia has many wonderful memories of days she and Joe spent in friendship with Mark and Mary.