As a school girl in Gronlid, I knew Elmer’s younger siblings better than I knew him. It was after I was a bridesmaid at Elmer and Dianna’s wedding that we began keeping in touch through Christmas cards and letters and formed a lifelong friendship. We were delighted when they visited us in Williams Lake one summer, and we’d visit them in PA on our annual trips to SK. Elmer’s warmth, hospitality, and his interesting stories made our visits fun! We learned he was also a man of many talents. The hardwood floor he laid in their house is absolutely beautiful! We also noticed his creativity when he pruned the bushes in the yard, making them into amazing artistic shapes! In recent years, Doug and I also had great visits and fun times with Elmer and Dianna in Yuma. One lasting memory we have is when Elmer invited us to go on a scorpion hunt in the desert at night. Hunting scorpions, especially in the dark, was never on my bucket list, but we followed him in darkness under the stars while he shone his black light flashlight on the sand. And suddenly, there it was…a fluorescent, glow-in-the-dark scorpion under a dried up bush!
Doug and I are grateful for the memories of our last visit with Elmer and Dianna at the school closing ceremony in Gronlid this past June, 2022. It was fun visiting, reminiscing, and spending time together. We will miss Elmer’s fun loving disposition, his optimistic attitude, and his friendship. I will miss his warm greeting and his bear hugs.
Rest In Peace, Elmer.
Hilda and Doug Hopp in Williams Lake, BC
(Photo: February 2020, Los Aldodones, MX)
