Arthur Ernest Hopkinson

Arthur Ernest Hopkinson, 95, of St. George, UT, returned home to the waiting arms of his loving wife, his earthly family and his Heavenly Father on February 1^st 2022.

Arthur was born in Bellingham, WA to Ernest Isadore Hopkinson and Susan Rosella Smethurst on July 15^th 1926. His family moved to Mountain View, WY when he was a young boy. Art was quite a character; in his younger years, he loved riding his horse to school and then having horse races with some of his buddies after school. He regularly won as he was the consummate Western Cowboy. Arthur and his family had to work very hard living and running a cattle ranch in south western Wyoming; he and his brothers learned the meaning and value of work as they often hired out as work hands on other ranches to help at home. When WWII started Art’s older brother Harold joined the Navy, and went off to fight in the war. Being a young patriot and wanting to serve his country, Art was only 17 but he fibbed about his age and told the recruiter he was 18 and joined the Navy like his brother. After basic training, Art was stationed on the Battleship Arkansas. The Arkansas was involved in many battles and one of Art’s most favorite memories was fighting in the battle of Iwo Jima; he was looking through his gun sights and saw the famous moment when the marines stood the American flag, that moment is now a national monument in Washington DC.

When Arthur returned from the war he returned to his family home in Mountain View. Art got a job operating equipment on a road project, he was a young single war Hero, he bought a brand-new car and was quite the man about town. One day while he was at home, he heard a young woman across the road yelling for help, she was being chased by a bull in their field. Being the Hero, he was, Art ran to her rescue and in doing so met the love of his life. Bobette Walker was the girl next door, she and Arthur were married August 15^th 1947 in the Salt Lake City Temple. The couple moved to Salt Lake City, UT and Art went to work in the construction industry. Arthur’s keen personality & great work ethic caught the attention of Otto Buehner, the owner of a marble and pre-cast concrete company so, he hired him on the spot. Arthur worked hard, climbing up through the company as a marble apprentice, form builder, marble installer, a shop foreman, eventually to become the youngest sales manager in the history of the company.

Arthur was a master at his craft and he became the go to guy for projects all over the United States. When the company had a very difficult project, they would pull Art in and he would engineer ways to get buildings built that no one else could. Art worked for Buehner Concrete for 33 years; moving his family many times to do a multi-year projects in another state. Arthur & Bobette finally went into business on their own and built a very successful construction company. Art’s expertise put the exteriors on high rise buildings that still stand as monuments to his ability in Detroit, MI, Honolulu, HI, San Diego, CA. to name a few. He built an exhibition at the New York City World’s Fair. Art really enjoyed working on project for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he worked on many LDS Temples like the Oakland & St. George Temples. Two of his most prominent buildings are the LDS Church Office Building and the Eagle Gate Tower, in the heart of downtown SLC. Arthur really enjoyed working with his sons on many of these projects, he instilled his work ethics in them from an early age and taught them the meaning of an honest day’s work. His sons have many, many great memories of working with their father.

Art was a man’s man, he was tough as nails, fiercely loyal, smart, handsome & strong. There are so many stories of him helping others physically, socially & financially. But he was also a True Gentleman, he was kind and loving, he was chivalrous to no end. Arthur and Bobette had a great marriage and it showed in everything they did. He was an example to his sons & grandsons of what and how a man should treat a woman; and an example to his daughters & granddaughters of what to expect and demand from a man and a marriage. Arthur was also a wise teacher and leader, he was devoted in his Faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he held many positions in the church throughout the years. Art and Bobette served as missionaries in the St. George Historical Sites Mission and a special calling to the Adam-ondi-Ahman mission.

Art wasn’t all work, he loved having fun, he was an avid golfer all his life, he enjoyed playing tennis, camping, boating and being with family and friends. While his children were growing up there were annual trips to Lake Powell in the spring, Flaming Gorge in July and then back to Powell in the fall. There was always time to be a Cowboy for spring and fall cattle drives at his relative’s ranch in Wyoming. Art’s smile and laughter were infectious, he was a prankster and loved to throw a party. Art & Bobette’s annual New Year’s Eve parties were always a big hit with friends.

Arthur is preceded in death by his loving wife Bobette Walker Hopkinson, his parents Ernest Isadore Hopkinson & Susan Rosella Smethurst Hopkinson, Harold Isadore Hopkinson (brother), Phyllis Ann Hopkinson (sister), Leroy Allen Hopkinson (brother), Betty Hopkinson (sister), Beverly Hopkinson (sister).

After 65 years of a happy marriage, Bobette was stricken with ovarian cancer and returned to our Heavenly Father March 17, 2013. Art was heartbroken and not sure what life had left for him. Art lived with his daughter Suzette for a few years, then move to St. George to live with his son Craig; Art had some friends that lived in the area. Arthur was attending one of his granddaughters wedding, when he met Lorraine, the grandmother of the new grandson-in-law. Art and Lorraine were kindred spirits and after a while decided to get married. Arthur & Lorraine loved each other dearly and enjoyed their time together with walks and talks, dinners with friends and feeding the birds on the back porch.

Arthur and Lorraine’s time together was always expressed and perceived by friends and family as two lovebirds expressions of love and companionship. Rarely ever apart, they were constantly holding hands, and enjoying every moment together.Each of their individual families has come to love one another and have each embraced and expressed their love for one another. Arthur and Lorraine now have joint great grandchildren together who share the legacy of both families. They both exemplified the meaning of true devotion of one human being for another and set an example for all the generations to follow

Arthur is survived by his wife, Lorraine Toomey, by his son’s E Craig Hopkinson, Denis C Hopkinson (Cynthia), daughter’s Suzette Hopkinson Davis (Kelly), Debra Green, son’s Barry A Hopkinson (Pitece), Bradley J Hopkinson. 22 Grandchildren, 56 Great grandchildren, wonderful in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.