Glenn Mills Hopkin
BASIN, WY - Long time Basin, Wyoming resident, Glenn Mills Hopkin, age 74, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2015, at the Saint Vincent Health Care Hospital in Billings, Montana, surrounded by his family.
Glenn was born November 15, 1940 in Basin, Wyoming, the eldest child of Glenn Shumway Hopkin and Helen Mae Mills Hopkin. He lived in Otto on the farm in his early years going to grade school in Otto and his later years in Greybull. When Glenn was a junior in high school, his family moved to Basin where he graduated from Basin High School in 1959.
Glenn joined the U.S. Air Force on January 30, 1961. During this time Glenn met and married Bessie Louise Leffingwell on December 20, 1961 in Basin, Wyoming. They started their family in Minot, North Dakota where Glenn was based. Their daughter, Gwen Elizabeth and their son, Jerome Glenn were born there. After receiving his honorable discharge on January 29, 1965, Glenn's family came back to Basin where they made their home. Two more children were added, their son, Heath Allen and their daughter, Terilyn Marie. In their later years, one more daughter, Betty, was added to the family.
Glenn was always known to be a hard worker which he taught his five children to be. He worked in the oil field industry for many years and later worked in the farming and ranching industry.
Glenn participated in rodeo competitions in his younger years and gave it up when he got married. He always enjoyed going to rodeos and taking his family to these events, especially every Fourth of July in Ten Sleep, which became the annual family outing. He helped put on the Big Horn County Fair Rodeo for many years.
Glenn played on the men's softball league and also played on the men's bowling leagues for many years. He coached the young women's softball team, the "Wildcats", in the early 70's. He would later coach his boys little league baseball teams. Glenn was also a referee for high school basketball games. He and his sons would later compete in the endurance ride and shared that passion with them. Glenn was past president of the Big Horn 100. He was also past president of the FOE Eagles Aerie #3086 in Basin and was past president of the Basin Lions Club.
Glenn loved his sports and always watched his football and went to his children's and grandchildren's activities. Glenn was a great influence to his family who were the most important people in his life. He was their "hero". His favorite place to be was in the Big Horn Mountains with his family at the family hunting cabin.
Glenn is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Dicky and Tom; and his son-in-law, Don Hoyt.
Glenn is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Bessie Hopkin of Basin, Wyoming; his children: Gwen (Rod) Cox of Riverton, Wyoming, Jerry (JoAnn) Hopkin of Greybull, Wyoming, Heath (Nikki) Hopkin of Basin, Wyoming, Terilyn (Ben) Mayland of Glenrock, Wyoming, and Betty (John) Moreland of Parkman, Wyoming; his grandchildren: Colter Hoyt, Gunnar Garland, Savannah Cauffman, Hadley, Hudsyn, and Harmony Hopkin, Brennah Mayland, and Tausha Moreland; his great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Chloe, and Skylar; his siblings: Pat (Jerry) Flyr of Ohio, Trudy (Chuck) Koster of Billings, Montana, Terry (Wendy) Hopkin of Lander, Wyoming, Chuck Hopkin of Basin, Wyoming, Billie Deutscher of Miles City, Montana, and Rod (Kay) Hopkin of Basin, Wyoming; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A viewing was held on March 5, 2015 at the LDS Church with the funeral service following. The burial with military graveside rites will follow in the Mount View Cemetery at Basin.