Blaine Hopp

He was the third of six siblings and came of age during the Great Depression which had a major impact on him and his family. The family moved around quite a bit, forcing Blaine and his siblings to attend various schools in towns surrounding Olympia. He finished his last two years of high school at Olympia High School, from where he frequently crossed the street to watch the legislature in session. He developed an interest in law, encouraged by his mother and grandmother. He first worked to earn money, and then attended the University of Washington where his studies were interrupted by WWII. He joined the Navy after Pearl Harbor and served until Japan’s surrender. In September 1945, he returned home and discovered that classes at the University of Washington Law School were to begin in just a few days. He took the opportunity and began his satisfying career.

While in law school, he met J. Laura Hansen and they began their nearly 64 year marriage in 1948. The couple moved to Yakima in 1950 where he practiced law. In 1963, Governor Rossellini appointed Blaine to a new Superior Court Judge position, where he served until retirement in 1983.

Blaine was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters (Grace, Muriel, and Peggy), and two brothers (Dick and Ken).

Blaine and Laura had 3 sons – Erik (Sherlyn) of Dipolog, Medeano Island, the Philliphines, Robert (Jennifer) of Richland, and Dick (Dana) of Yakima, and daughter Wanda (Paul) Halsey of Kenniwick. Blaine is survived by his wife and children, 8 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. His love, kindness, and compassion along with his stories of the past will be missed. To celebrate the life of Blaine and to share a memory visit www.keithandkeith.com.