Helen Popp

Helen Ruth Johnston Popp died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on June 27, 2014. She was born in Sheridan, Wyoming, on October 11, 1923, to Esther (Pearson) and Vincent C. Johnston. She is survived by her five children: Marilyn Ingram of Casper; Loretta Popp (Cheryl Heatherington) of Iowa City, Iowa; Nancy Popp (Chris Cullen) of Ipswich, Massachusetts; Jerome Popp (Brandy Popp) of Glenrock; Janet Williams of Boulder, Colorado; twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; including her namesake, Helen June Popp, whose first birthday was June 27. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Charlotte Moeller and Barbara Furnish, brother Raymond Johnston, and beloved husband of 54 years, Joseph W. Popp. Helen grew up in Ranchester, and attended the University of Wyoming, majoring in mathematics. As part of the World War II effort, she was selected for the Curtiss-Wright Engineering Program at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa. There she studied aeronautical engineering and then went on to work for Curtiss-Wright in St. Louis. When the war ended she returned to Wyoming and worked as a draftswoman at the Wyoming Highway Department in Cheyenne. During this time she played saxophone in a dance band. Love of music was one of the many things she had in common with a young man working in the maps room at the Highway Department, and she married Joe Popp on September 17, 1949. They moved to Glenrock in the early 1950s with their first child, Marilyn. They raised all five children and spent the rest of their days there. Helen served on the School Board for the Glenrock Schools, was secretary for the Superintendant of Schools for many years, and finished her career as business manager for the Converse County School District No. 2. She was one of the first Bone Biddies, faithfully preparing dinosaur bones for 65 million years (or 20, we forget) at the Glenrock Paleon Museum. Helen took enormous pleasure in life. She and Joe spent many evenings at the Casper Symphony, and many summer weekends at the Teton Music Festival in Jackson. Though reserved, she had a wicked sense of humor and no one could make her laugh like her kids and grandkids. Her quiet expectation of goodness inspired everyone around her to be on their very best behavior. Helen's unfailing faith and trust in Christ Jesus is deeply woven into her character. She lived that faith daily, expressing it in few words and many actions. Helen spent her childhood in the Big Horn Mountains and loved hiking and fishing. She climbed Laramie Peak at age 83. She was always an athlete, from being a star forward on the high school basketball team to a skier while in college, and snowshoer and passionate golfer till she was 90. She was a shrewd bridge player, and would win almost any kind of game played at family gatherings. She completed the New York Times crossword puzzle, in ink, every week. She adored her family and delighted in the special connection she had with each one of us. She had an amazing capacity to be present and to find joy in any situation. Her patient, optimistic and loving spirit will be so missed. A Vigil and Remembrance of Helen will take place Tuesday July 1 at 6 pm, and a Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday July 2 at 11 am with a reception following; all are welcome. Both services will be held at St. Louis Catholic Church in Glenrock.

Service

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 11:00am

St. Louis Catholic Church

601 So. 5th

Glenrock, Wyoming 82637