Betty Hopper

Betty Jane Hopper, 87, of Ellensburg, devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at the Kittitas Valley Hospital in Ellensburg.

Throughout her life, and especially after she retired and moved to Ellensburg, Betty was passionate about volunteering and working in the community. She was an active member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church where she served on the funeral reception committee and as a Eucharist Minister, taking communion to those at the nursing home who couldn’t attend Mass.

Betty also had a love of working with children and frequently volunteered at the Kittitas Library where she helped with summer programs and volunteered at the elementary school reading with kids. She will also be fondly remembered for the pies she made for a variety of events and occasions around the valley.

After moving to Ellensburg in 1996 with her late husband, Charlie, Betty became a member of the Kittitas County Cattlewomen and served on several committees as well as vice president.  She was honored in 2015 as Cattlewoman of the Year.  At the time of her award, Cattlewoman member Bev Cridlebaugh mentioned Betty’s “warmth, friendliness and compassion make her a wonderful addition to our great group of ladies.”

Betty and Charlie enjoyed traveling and exploring and would frequently go in the backcountry with their horses. Betty also traveled to Europe, visiting Italy, Ireland, Turkey, and her ancestral home of Poland. She even went on a spontaneous trip to Hong Kong with one of her cousins. She was a fascinating woman who always wanted to learn and share her adventures with others.

Summed up, Betty was a person who served so many people in her community in so many different ways. Service was her calling, and she will be greatly missed by everyone she knew.

Left to cherish her memory are her brother Robert (Sue) Kostka; sister Dorothy (William) Bucholz; five children Steve (Riadel), Parker, Susan (Grant) Seim, Stephanie (Larry) Sutherland, Leslie (Jeff) Bray, and Matthew Parker; stepsons Steve (Lorraine) Hopper and Doug (Barbara) Hopper, as well as 22 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Charlie; parents Joseph and Josephine Kostka and daughter Sandra Bartholomew.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Ellensburg with burial to follow at the IOOF Cemetery. A reception will follow the cemetery service at the family ranch.

Johnston & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Ellensburg has been entrusted with caring for Mrs. Hopper and her family.  Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com

PLEASE NOTE: (January 11, 2024) -- The recording of this service has been archived and removed from our server.  If you wish to obtain a copy of this recording on a thumb drive, please contact our office.