Pauline Kopp

Pauline Kopp age 95, died at the Glendive Extended Care in Glendive, Montana, on Friday, December 12, 2003, the last surviving member of the Ted and Bertha O'Brien family of Sidney, Montana. Pauline Eleanor O'Brien was born on September 9, l908, in her pioneer parents' home at Newlon, 5 miles south of Sidney, Montana. Pauline was the second of eight living children born to Bertha Dore and George Titus (Ted) O'Brien. Ted O' Brien was born at Newlon in l884, and served seven terms as Richland County Sheriff. He was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt Sidney's tenth Postmaster, dying in office in l943. Pauline's mother, Bertha Augusta Dore, arrived in the Lower Yellowstone Valley as a child of twelve with her family, by covered wagon from Sterling, Colorado, in l896. Bertha's mother, Pauline Amelia Dore, settled in Ridgelawn, a community north of present day Sidney. Dore, North Dakota, is named after Pauline Amelia's son, George, who was its first postmaster. Pauline Kopp was the granddaughter of John W. O'Brien, one of the earliest settlers in the Lower Yellowstone Valley. John W. O'Brien arrived in the late l860's as a soldier with the 6th infantry regiment at Ft. Buford, Dakota Territory. He married Ellen Kennedy, and built their home in l88l at Newlon, Montana, which was then the earliest settlement in the original Dawson County. This two story log home became the O'Brien Stagecoach Stop and the O'Brien store. It was also the Newlon postoffice, with Ellen Kennedy O'Brien as postmaster. Pauline attended Newlon school, and in l925 wrote a history of that school, from which her father had also graduated. She graduated from Sidney High School in l927. After graduation from Holy Rosary Hospital School of Nursing in Miles City in May l930, she attended the International Congress of Nurses in Paris, France, and Brussels, Belgium, in l930. After working as a nurse for a year in Miles City, she operated the Elizabeth Hospital in Baker for two years. After surgical nursing training at Stanford University she served as a Registered Nurse in California from l933 to l935. Returning to Montana for Christmas l935, she worked in Columbus, Montana, before joining the Sidney Deaconess Hospital (later Sidney Memorial Hospital) as an R.N. In l939, in Sidney, she married George Kopp who was born in Shakopee, Minnesota, in l902. After World War II ended, the family joined Pauline's sister, Anna O'Brien Kizziar,also a nurse, in Jackson, Michigan. Pauline worked there as a nurse until the family returned to Sidney, Montana in l953, where she resumed general duty at Sidney Memorial Hospital, as well as private duty, for which she was much sought after for the excellent care she provided, as well as for her deep concern and sense of humor. Except for about six years, Pauline spent her entire lifetime in the Lower Yellowstone Valley, mostly in the Newlon area. She was a lifetime member of Lonsdale Methodist Church in Sidney. She moved to Glendive in l980, where, until recently, she remained active in the United Methodist Church of Glendive and as a member of the Rachel Circle of that Church. She was also a member of the Newlon Homemakers Club and the VFW Auxiliary. Pauline was preceded in death by her husband, George Kopp, who died on March 22, 1965, as well as by sisters, Anna Kizziar and Dorothy Ford, and brothers, John, Fred, Donald, Henry and Gerald O'Brien. She is survived by her four children: Maryellen Navratil (Gerald), Sidney, Ted Kopp (Jo), Sacramento, California, Lyman Kopp, Glendive, and Gerald R. Kopp (Rudell), Atlantic Beach, Florida; four grandchildren: Lynn and Heather Navratil, Kimberly Navratil-Pope, and Christopher Kopp; three great grand children, Alexandra, Aleksander, and Danielle; and three nephews: John and Richard Kizziar and David O'Brien. Also surviving are numerous relatives, including Bob and Barbara Dore, Rudy Dore, and Luella Dore of Sidney. True to her pioneer roots, Pauline was a very strong and independent woman who enjoyed nothing more than the gatherings of family and friends , a long-standing O'Brien tradition. Her nursing school motto, "Simplicity, sincerity, service" accurately reflects her life. Cremation has taken place and her ashes will be interred at the Newlon Cemetery in a private service at a later date, according to her wishes. Memorials may be made to the Mondak Heritage Center, Sidney, or to the charity of one's choice.

Pauline Kopp

January 1, 1753 - December 12, 2003

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Pauline Kopp

January 1, 1753 - December 12, 2003

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

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