Fredrick Lavell Hoopes was born to Stone Lavell Hoopes and Olive Henrietta (Nash) Hoopes on March 8, 1932, in Mesa, Arizona. Fred’s early childhood was spent on his father’s farm in Thatcher, where he milked cows on cold winter mornings and plowed frozen ground in preparation for summer’s cotton and alfalfa crops. He built fences in the hot Arizona sun. Life was hard, but it instilled in him a life-long appreciation of hard work.
Growing up, Fred lettered in sports, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and participated in the school band and chorus. After graduating from Thatcher High School in 1950, Fred attended Eastern Arizona College for one year and then transferred to the University of Southern California. Fred followed in his father’s footsteps by going into dentistry. Fred met his future companion unexpectedly at USC. Karen had traveled from Springville to visit her brother Sterling Ottesen at The USC dental school. Karen was 18 years old. Karen scared Fred to death when she boldly sat down by him at a church function. Fred and Karen were meant to be together. They were engaged five weeks later, and married on January 3, 1957, in the Salt Lake Utah Temple by Fred’s former Stake President of his youth, Apostle Spencer Kimball.
Fred held various jobs throughout dental school, which included delivering blood around LA, and even lifting cadavers out of the formaldehyde pit at the USC Science building. Fred attended Wilshire Ward and sang in the ward choir under H. Fredrick Davis. Mr. Davis had just organized the Southern California Mormon Choir, and Fred enjoyed singing with that choir at the Hollywood Bowl. Fred enjoyed playing ping-pong at the USC Institute, being constantly challenged by Institute Director Paul Dunn. After graduating Dental School, Fred was sent to Ft. Worth, Texas in the United States Air Force for two years, where he was assigned as the base periodontist to work on the troops. After Gretchen was born, Fred and Karen moved to Torrance, California, where Shawn, Heidi, Tim, and Jeremy were born.
Fred practiced Dentistry in Torrance for almost 50 years. Fred received his pilot’s license and loved airplanes. After selling his dental office, Fred enjoyed practicing dentistry with his son Tim in Redondo Beach, California, where Fred and Tim would take 2-hour lunches to fly RC airplanes at the beach. Weekday mornings in Torrance found Fred and Karen playing tennis with their good friends Richard and Bonnie Crook, who lived just down the street. Richard and Janelle Birk and their families joined the Hoopeses and Crooks for fun nights out, camping outings, and temple service. Sunday dinners with Sterling and James Ottesen’s families were special monthly events.
Music played an important part of Fred’s life. Fred performed in countless stage performances and choral concerts all over the world, including Carnegie Hall, and played just about every instrument ever handed to him. Fred enjoyed participating in “Savior of the World” with his family. Fred and Karen would golf together. They loved to travel together. They served in the temple and prayed for their family every day. Fred and Karen retired to Spanish Fork in 2005, so Karen could be next to her beloved Maple Mountain where she had grown up.
Fred remained active in church service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints his entire life, serving as Bishop, Stake President, and Stake Patriarch of the Torrance, California Stake and most recently as Stake Patriarch in the Canyon View, Utah Stake.
Fred and Karen’s 65-year marriage was interrupted just a short 3 months ago, when Karen passed away December 13, 2021. In Karen’s later years, Fred cared for her with patience, understanding and love. Fred and Karen loved their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and always let them know how fortunate they felt to have their past generations represented so well in future generations. Fred and Karen loved and served others their entire life. Anyone who knew them remembers their love, service, and devotion.
Fred celebrated his 90th birthday two weeks ago, with his family surrounding him. Fred is survived by his five children, Gretchen, Shawn, Heidi, Tim, and Jeremy, as well as his siblings Marilyn, J.B, Terry, and Doug.
A funeral service and visitation will be held Saturday, March 19, 2021, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Canyon Ward building, 3477 East River Bottom Road, Spanish Fork UT 84660. The visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. til 10:45 a.m. with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel. Interment will be next to his beloved Karen at Spanish Fork City Cemetery, 420 South 400 East, Spanish Fork, Utah 84660.
Funeral service will be live-streamed. Return to this obituary shortly before 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2022, and click on the following link: https://youtu.be/PaTobtaew_I
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