Walter James Hopper

Walter James Hopper, age 78, passed away at his home in Caldwell, Idaho, of natural causes on November 8, 2017. Walter was born in Nampa, Idaho at the old Samaritan Hospital on June 29, 1939 to Claud and Ruth (Wikoff) Hopper of Midvale, Idaho. On August 10, 1962, he married Ann Dibble at the Parma Nazarene Church. They had three daughters, eight grandchildren, and nine grandchildren. Everything Walt did, he did with a passion – fishing, hunting, teen Bible quizzing, woodworking, gardening, growing roses. His greatest passion was his love for Jesus, followed by his love for his wife and family. A home mission pastor for about 10 years, he always excelled at helping his churches win awards in various areas and reaching the goals that were set. After leaving the active ministry, he continued to minister throughout his life. He drove bus for many years in the Weiser school district, Weiser Head Start, and for wildfire firefighters. He taught lots of Sunday School classes for teens and adults and he enjoyed serving as a counselor at church camps for boys and teens and working with local teen retreats and men’s campouts. He spent several years organizing the campground for contestants at the National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Frances Ann (Dibble) Hopper; his daughters and their spouses: Claudia Erickson and her husband John, Cindy Erickson and her husband Carl, and Corene Ward and her husband Vernon; grandchildren: Shane Erickson and his wife Tamara, Chelsea Post and her husband Bobby, Dorothy Amaya and her husband Ed, Robert Erickson, Aaron Erickson and his wife Calla, Reuben Ward, Annie Ward, and Isaac Ward; great grandchildren: Elizabeth Ann, John Luke, Angel, JP, Hannah, Amy, Gabriella, Chance, and Blake; and very dear friends Dawn and Doug McGary and their son, Dalton Montgomery; sister Nancy Bartoschek and her husband Ken; sister-in-law Sandy Hopper. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Victor Lee Hopper and Milton Hopper. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Nazarene in Weiser, Idaho. Memorials may be made to St. Lebre Indian School: stlebre.org or PO Box 797, Ashland, MT 59003 in memory of Walt Hopper or to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, PO Box 843116, Kansas City, MO 64184. In the name of Walter Hopper. An online giving page will be available soon. Service Information