Benita Hooppaw

Benita Greer Hooppaw, age 79, of Janesville, MN, passed away on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at Bridgewater of Janesville after a lengthy battle with Alzheimers. 

Benita Greer was born April 29, 1945 in East St. Louis, Illinois to Chester “Sport” and Gorga (Clutts) Greer. She was raised in Carbondale, Illinois and graduated from University High School in 1963. Benita worked a variety of jobs in high school, and then worked for J.P. Kennedy Foundation/Eunice Shriver camp for disabled children, and was later one of the first people hired to assist with the formation of the Job Corps in Morganfield, Kentucky in 1964. Benita attended Southern Illinois University for a brief time, and worked in various departments at SIU in secretarial positions. During her time at SIU, she met Paul Dennis Hooppaw. Her and Paul were married on September 28, 1968 during his leave from Vietnam and honeymooned in Hawaii before Paul returned to Vietnam. After Paul's return from Vietnam, he and Benita finished his Navy military service in Bethesda Maryland and then returned to southern Illinois while Paul finished his schooling at SIU. 

Paul and Benita made their way to Algona Iowa, where Clint was born, and New Richland, MN, where DeAnna was born. They resided in New Richland for several years, and then moved to Dodge Center, MN. During that time, Benita was a stay at home mom, an attorney's aid, a licensed real estate agent, a typist, a dog groomer and breeder, and created and sold many craft items, and later worked with Paul in their insurance agency, as well as spending numerous hours volunteering in the Church and the community. After Paul's unexpected passing in 1993, Benita moved to Mankato, MN, and obtained her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Information Technology from Rasmussen College and became a medical coder. She worked as a traveling coder for several years, with many assignments on the east coast. After 9/11 grounded her traveling career, she became one of the opening staff as the medical coder for the Surgery Center at Wickersham in Mankato. During that time, Benita became a grandmother, and that is where her time shined. She loved her time with all her grandkids, keeping them busy and active, encouraging their love for reading and learning and exploring. She enjoyed attending their school and extracurricular events, and supporting them in every possible way. She gladly passed her “serial hobbyist” gene onto many of her grandkids.

Sleepovers at Grammies, the pink house and the big rock, orange cinnamon rolls, making quilts, going to the parks, libraries, and watching construction equipment will always hold special memories for all of the grandkids. Her battle with Alzheimers/dementia took away many of her opportunities to make more memories with her grandkids. Special thank you to the staff at Bridgewater of Janesville and St.Croix Hospice who helped care for her during her final months. 

Benita is survived by her son, Clint Hooppaw and his wife Jessica of Apple Valley, MN, her daughter DeAnna Wheelock and her husband Ed of Janesville, MN, and grandchildren Patrick and Abby Tarrant, Sydney Hooppaw, and Jason Wheelock, as well as her sister and brother in law Jackie and Don Robinson, brother Mike Greer, Aunt Dorothy Rudoni and cousin Tony Rudoni, and her nieces. Benita was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother Timothy, niece Jeanette “Jeanne” Robinson, sister Judith K. Luebke, and husband Paul. 

Private family service will be held on Wednesday, September 4th in the afternoon, with a public visitation from 5:00-7:00 pm at Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral Home. Graveside service will be held at Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale, Il on Friday, September 6th.