Notes for Dexter Darlene Hopkins

Family Group Sheet

Notes for Dexter Darlene Hopkins

OBITUARY:
Dexter Darlene Sauvé joined her beloved husband in Heaven early Monday morning, February 6, 2017. Dexter was born in Harlan, Iowa on February 28, 1928 to Francis Born and Orlo Hopkins, the 2nd of four children and part of a very musical family. She moved to Yakima in 1932 and went through public schools here including Yakima High School.

Dexter began singing at a very young age and could be heard weekly performing on KIT Radio as part of a duet with her little sister Nadine. She spent more than seven decades singing and performing with Sweet Adelines and in many Baptist and Catholic Church Choirs, including most recently Holy Family’s Resurrection Choir.

During WWII Dexter moved briefly to Seattle and worked for Boeing as a “Bucker” girl, the other half of “Rosie the Riveter’s” team. The riveter used a gun to shoot rivets through the metal and fasten it together while the “bucker” used a bucking bar on the other side of the metal to smooth out the rivets. Bucking required a lot of muscle and Dexter was always incredibly strong. She enjoyed being part of the war effort while her childhood sweetheart served aboard the USS Jerauld in the South Pacific.

On August 7, 1945, she married her sweetheart and the love of her life, Charles Shelby Sauvé, while he was home on leave. At the age of 11 she told her dying mother that there was no need to worry about her because she planned to marry that french boy down the street, Charles Sauvé. Theirs was a love so strong that it carried her through her entire life, sharing 56 wonderful years of marriage.

In 1949 Dexter and her husband Chuck took up Square and Round Dancing which became a lifelong passion for the pair. While her husband became a Square Dance Caller they both became teachers for this activity and she was ever ready to provide harmony and backup for his calling. As they raised their family in the 70’s the pair taught and called for the Stampeders, a teen square dance group in the Yakima Valley. As the 80’s were ushered in Charles became the Caller for the Blue Agate Squares in Ellensburg, WA and Dexter was his ever helpful Girl Friday, always ready to jump in with whatever assistance he needed. The pair became extremely involved in leadership for this activity. They worked on numerous state and national festivals as well as seminars. They held several offices in the Square and Folk Dance Federation of Washington State, including that of President (1988-89). They were absolutely the perfect team and completed each other. Dexter and her husband, Chuck, were honored in 1987 with the “inspirational Cup,” better known as the Parker award, for their dedication and tireless efforts in promoting this activity to young and old alike. In 1998 they were again honored, this time with the President’s Award for their exceptional service to the furtherance and development of Square and Round Dancing in Washington State.

Dexter’s greatest accomplishment has been that of raising not only her own six children but countless others. She cared for her younger siblings when her mother passed early in life and later cared for the children of friends and, of course, her beloved grandchildren. When her older children were young you could find Dexter coaching basketball and softball at St. Paul’s Grade School. She was quite the little athlete in her younger days and one of the Mariners’ and Seahawks’ biggest fans as a little ol’ lady.

There was seldom a day without children in her home, she was always baking, caregiving and preparing yummy meals for those she loved and for those in need. Dexter’s love language in this world has been acts of service. Our mother was always the first to jump in and help when a friend, family member or stranger was in need.

Mrs. Sauvé is survived by her six children, Karren LaRee Jundt and husband Jake of Yakima, WA; Charles Leonard Sauvé and wife Nancy of Selah, WA; Steven Fredrick Sauvé and wife Carolyn of Yakima, WA; Gaylen Francis Sauvé and wife Nikki of Redmond, WA; Mary Kathrine Sauve and husband John Liu of Portland, OR; Scott Allen Sauvé and wife Lori of Yakima, WA; a sister, Nadine LaRee Blanchard of Yakima, WA; and a brother, Orlo Francis (Frank) Hopkins of Moxee, WA; 16 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband Charles Shelby Sauvé and her brother Jack Eugene Hopkins.

Vigil services, including the Holy Rosary will be on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 5 pm at Brookside Funeral and Crematory; 500 W. Prospect Place, Moxee, WA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, February 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Parish at 201 N. Iler, Moxee, Washington. A luncheon will follow services at the Parish Hall and interment will be at 2 p.m at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in her memory to the Virginia Mason Memorial Foundation or La Salle High School, 3000 Lightning Way, Union Gap, WA 98903.

Momma, we know you are once again dancing and singing and laughing with daddy. We’re just a little jealous. We know you’ll find comfort in the arms of an angel.

Arrangements by Brookside Funeral Home and Crematory.

(Source: Yakima Herald February 7, 2017)