Vivian R Hopkins (Robertson)

Vivian was born in Frankfort, Indiana on June 8, 1921 to Ora V. and Edith F. Robertson. She was the oldest of four children. When she was very young, her mother contracted tuberculosis and was sent to a sanitarium for recovery. Vivian went to live with her grandparents on the Robertson farm and later with her father. Of her siblings, two were raised in an orphanage in Colorado Springs and the other by her mother’s aunt and uncle. Vivian came to Colorado when she was 13 to also live with her aunt and uncle, Stella and Dallas Plummer and her sister Marjorie. Vivian graduated from South High School in Denver in 1939.

She married the love of her life, June (Snooks) Hopkins on October 1, 1940 in St. Francis, Kansas. Dad was out of work, sickly and didn’t even have enough money to buy the marriage license. Not to worry, Mom was making $0.25 an hour and the War would soon provide work for Snooks.

During World War II, Snooks was a B-17 pilot and was stationed in Yuma, Arizona. Mom was there with him. After the war, he worked for his mother at the Burnham Tavern in Denver. They also owned and operated a motel in Lakewood on West Colfax Avenue. In 1962, the Hopkins moved to Rawlins, Wyoming and bought the Bucking Horse Lodge. They operated the motel for fourteen years before retiring. In 1980, they moved to Longmont, Colorado. During retirement, they enjoyed traveling the world. Christmas at the Hopkins house was an extravaganza to behold. Mom took months to prepare for Christmas. She would bake cookies and make candies for weeks. She routinely made 50 pounds of her fudge to mail as presents. She had a garage and basement full of “Christmas treasures.” She would take weeks to decorate her home and loved to host Christmas dinner.

Vivian kept a special place in her heart and a place at her table for both friend and family. Newcomers to Christmas dinner were often aghast at the noise, and commotion of twenty five to thirty family members and their friends playing games, opening presents, eating and preparing dinner. Expressions of the joy of the season of which Charles Dickens would approve.

She avidly watched sports on television, especially the Broncos and Rockies, looked forward to March Madness, and consistently won the family football pool. She was always ready for a picnic in Rocky Mountain National Park combined with a trip over Fall River Road.

Vivian loved to sew. She made square dancing outfits for Snooks and baby blankets and school clothes for her grandchildren, and wall hanging soft sculptures for Christmas presents for everyone. She also made beautiful quilts. She would watch television while she quilted and think about the person who was going to receive the quilt. The anticipation of giving something she made to someone she loved filled her with joy.

Snooks and Viv were happily married for sixty-six years before his passing in 2006. Except for a short period during World War II (basic training), they were never separated. They worked, lived and loved together and raised three children: Carol, John and Ted. They were truly each other’s best friend.

Throughout her days, she possessed a wonderful joy for living. She loved and was loved. A simple epitaph but true.

She was preceded in death by her husband Snooks, daughter Carol Deihl, and siblings Vernon Robertson, Marjory Rogers, and Jean Farr. Those left behind treasuring loving and joyful memories include: sons John Hopkins (Vicky), Longmont, CO: Ted Hopkins (Elizabeth), Kennewick, Washington; eight grandchildren: Doug Diehl (Shelley), Casper, Wyoming; Anthony Diehl (Amanda), Rapid City, South Dakota; David Diehl (Leah), Gainesville, Florid;, Kristi Baty (Ace), Flagstaff, Arizona; Katie Hopkins, Portland, Oregon; Molly Hopkins (Jules Domingue), Portland, Oregon; Noah Hopkins, Breckenridge, Colorado; and Brian Crowder (Cindi), Erie, Colorado; fourteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter.

She will be interred with her husband at Fort Logan National Cemetery. The family will have a private memorial service at a summer gathering. Memorial contributions are requested to Unity of Boulder, or TRU Community Care Hospice, Louisville, Colorado.