Barbara Ann (Hopp) Miller

Barbara Ann (Hopp) Miller passed away peacefully early on the morning of Oct. 27, 2021, due to heart failure and Covid 19.

Barbara, the first child of Henry and Lydia (Eckhardt) Hopp was born July 2, 1929, in Odessa, Wash.

The Hopp family added four more siblings over the next several years: Norma, twins Yvonne and Richard and Paul. With her birthday so close to the 4th of July she often talked of using the nickel she got from her grandfather, Con Hopp, to buy sparklers or firecrackers for the 4th of July.

Sunday school and church were always a part of her life growing up. In her youth Barbara played the piano and taught lessons. She also tried to teach some of her children.

Barbara attended school in Odessa. She helped her grandma Anna Hopp on the farm in Lamona during summers. Later, while in high school she worked as a "soda jerk" at the Corner Drug Store. It was on her way home from the drug store that she met her future husband, Stanley, who lived in the hotel near the Hopp residence. The couple married Feb. 23, 1947.

In 1949 Stanley broke his arm in a car accident. Unable to continue working at the Trading Company, they moved to a small house on his dad's farm near Addy, Wash., and Stanley used his GI Bill to attend classes in agriculture in Chewelah. In Jan. of 1951 the house burned. The young family moved back to Odessa and Stanley worked for her father, Henry, in his construction business. The first three children, Stanley A., Ivan and Barbara Joan, were born while living in Odessa.

In 1955 the family moved to Chewelah to operate Stanley's father's dairy farm. When Darigold required the switch from shipping milk cans to using bulk tanks, the dairy was sold, and Stanley went to work at Mitzner Machinery. Two years later, having added Janet and Shirley, the growing family acquired an adjoining farm, where they raised cattle and hay. Also, Randy, Raymond and Kathy joined the family. Barbara earned extra income selling milk and cream.

Barbara was always busy raising her children and working when they were all in school. She did seasonal work sorting and bundling Christmas trees for shipment all over the U. S. For a few years she sorted additional trees for herself and sold them locally and in Odessa. She also worked at Ziebell Industries sawing knots out of boards in preparation for making moldings.

She worked for Chewelah Grange Supply for about 25 years. Later she volunteered at St. Joseph's Hospital operating the Gift Shop for many years. In 2019 she was named the hospital's "Volunteer of the Year". Barbara also volunteered at the Odessa Deutschesfest selling cabbage rolls at the Congregational Church booth or cooking and serving sausage and eggs at the Sun. morning German breakfast. In her final years Barbara enjoyed reading dozens of books a year and being at the Chewelah Casino watching Seattle Seahawks and Mariners games and playing slot machines.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Stanley J., (1998), son, Ivan (2019), great grandson Derek Miller (2012), brother Richard (2009) and sister Norma Kuch (October, 2021). Barbara is survived by her sister Yvonne (Bruce) Hille, Spokane, brother Paul Hopp, Odessa, and seven children: Stanley A. (Georgia), Spokane; Barbara Joan (Jerry), Ramm, Spokane Valley; Janet (Gary) Tetro, Chewelah; Shirley, Spokane Valley; Randy, Chewelah; Kathy (Gordon) Rubendall, Spokane; Raymond, Chewelah, and daughter-in-law, Leslie Miller, Chattaroy. Barbara has 12 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing is available on Thur. and Fri., Nov. 11-12 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Danekas Funeral Chapel, Chewelah. Funeral services will be at the Chapel on Sat., Nov. 13, 2021, at 10 a.m. A reception and small meal will be at the American Legion Hall following the graveside burial.