She was preceded in death by her parents William and Alma Bechthold and a sister-in-law: Irene Bechthold of Lodi, CA.
She is survived by her husband, Gordon Hoppe, MD; her son: Brent Hoppe; her daughter and son-in-law: Jennifer and Morris Olmsted; grandchildren: Kandis Johnson, Chance Supcoe and Brooklyn Olmsted; great grandchildren: Chance Tyler Supcoe and Micaela Johnson; two brothers: Bill and Duane Bechthold; sisters-in-law: Barbara Hricz and Almeda Bechthold; nieces and nephew: Janelle Hastings, Craig Hricz, Dell Bechthold, Brandon Bechthold, Michelle Madson and Missy Garcia; extended family include: Pam Supcoe, Allen Supcoe; many cousins; best friends: Michael Odell, MD, Jeanne Odell, Lyle and Wanda Stewart and many other friends.
Rosella was a devoted wife for 60 years, an amazing mother, Oma and sister.
She spent three years of her youth in Bowdin, ND, and the rest in Lodi, CA. She attended La Sierra College and then Loma Linda University School of Nursing where she graduated with her BS degree in Nursing, class of 1959B, with certificates in Public Health, School Nursing and Audiology.
She worked as a public health nurse in Colton/San Bernardino, CA. During a New Year’s Eve party of 1961, she met and married the love of her life, a medical student, Gordon Hoppe, on July 30, 1961. She then worked as a school nurse in South Pasadena, California when JFK was assassinated. In 1966, son Brent Hoppe, came into the family at 3 days old. Soon after, they moved to South Attleboro, MA and then Gelnhausen, Germany when Gordon was called into the US Army as a Battalion surgeon. After three years in the army, they moved to South Lancaster, MA where Rosella became the office nurse under Gordon’s General practice. In 1972, they moved to Greeneville where Rosella helped start the Home Health Department at Takoma Hospital with two other nurses. She also became involved in the Greeneville Adventist Church and helped on several committees, the Pathfinder Club and school projects. Three years later, baby girl Jennifer Hoppe came into the family at 21 days old. Before Rosella’s retirement in 1999, she left Home Health to work at the hospital and Community Service Center, receiving many Presidential Volunteer Service Awards from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation as well as recognition from the Community Service Center for her volunteer work.
In 2009, she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer, had chemo, and recovered. After that, she suffered many other illnesses until being admitted to Laughlin Health Care Center in Greeneville in 2019 after a home accident. Following many additional complications and hospitalizations, including a stroke in February 2021, her health declined until she was placed under Hospice this past August.
Rosella was an amazing cook, gardener, seamstress and a woman of many talents. We will all miss her loving care and German expressions.
Viewing will be at the Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 from 1 pm to 3 pm with the funeral following at 3 pm in the chapel of the funeral home with Michael Odell, MD officiating.
Entombment will follow in GreeneLawn Mausoleum.
Pallbearers are Dr. Michael Odell, Brent Hoppe, Morris Olmsted, Chance Supcoe, Allen Supcoe, and Herbie Hastings.
Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Ronald Turk, Dr. John Shaw, Dr. Richard Aasheim, Dr. Harry Nelson, Bob Hricz, Ben Hastings, Robert Hastings, Bill Bechthold, Duane Bechthold, Don Wasson and Bob Boehm.
Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com.
Kiser Rose Hill Funeral Home
125 Idletime Drive, Greeneville, TN, 37743
423-636-8007
