Alma Hopp Bower

Alma Hopp Bower went home be with her Lord on August 25, 2022. She passed away peacefully at the Worland Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center after living 96 years on this earth.

Alma was born on a farm near Melbeta, Nebraska in 1926. She was raised with three brothers and five sisters. The family worked together on the farm and Alma often said she worked very hard in the beet fields as the family labored together in those days prior to current farming practices. Alma met a young area farmer named Harley Bower. After Harley returned from World War II, they were married on August 1, 1947. They remained extremely devoted to each other until Alma's passing. Harley cared for Alma to the best of his ability during their entire marriage.

The couple made their home in Lingle, Wyoming and started a family. They had two sons while on the farm, Brian and Keith. The family lived in Lingle, until multi-year devasting hail storms forced them to consider other options. They were offered a chance to rent Roy Ruger's farm in Worland and they took that opportunity. Worland became their forever home.

Harley and Alma enjoyed social activities and were talented polka dancers, even having trophies to prove their successes. Alma was determined to live and enjoy life to the fullest. Being a farm girl, Alma could grow anything, anywhere. She designed and grew beautiful flowerbeds. If one plant came up that didn't fit her design, it was eliminated. She grew large, productive gardens that helped sustain and feed her family. She and Harley grew acres of cantaloupes which they sold in Worland. When Alma and Harley moved from the farm to live in Worland, Alma was honored to receive the Worland Garden of the Month award several times.

Alma enjoyed playing the organ, piano and accordion. She played all of the instruments by ear and without formal training. It was not uncommon to visit Alma and Harley and from outside the house, hear one of the instruments being played with joyful abandon. Being of German descent, Alma made the best German cherry bread, peach cake, cabbage burgers, homemade egg noodles and sugared fried bread imaginable. Each item was deliciously made with meticulous care. She especially loved making birthday cakes for her grandsons. She added an extra measure of love into each one. Another activity that Alma enjoyed was fishing with her husband, and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Katie and Raymond Bower. Most weekends during the summer would find them on their boat on Boysen Lake catching fish. During their later years, Alma and Harley went on multiple yearly trips. Alma enjoyed seeing the different areas of the United States. She and Harley went to Hawaii with their friends, the Ondo's, making wonderful memories and seeing beautiful sites.

Alma and Harley were blessed with two grandsons, Jarred and Eric Bower. She enjoyed watching the boys grow up on the farm. The boy's treasure memories of her cakes and time spent with her. Alma met her great-grandchildren Kimber and Killian Bower. She spoke of them often and loved getting to hold them as infants. She also thought highly of Jarred's wife Jessie and was happy when she joined the family.

Alma was preceded in death by her son, Brian Bower; parents Karl and Anna (Grebb) Hopp; brothers: Karl Jr., David Hopp, and Albert and her sisters: Leah Meininger, Elsie Schwartzkoph, Viola Schreiner, and Lucille Hopp. Survivors include her husband, Harley Bower; sister, Virginia (Marvin) Harimon; son, Keith (Lisa) Bower; grandsons, Jarred (Jessie) Bower, Eric Bower; great-grandchildren, Kimber and Killian; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place. Graveside services will be held at the Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 11:00 a.m. September 10, 2022, with Pastor Tim Trippel officiating. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneral

homeonline.com.