Benefit to benefit Ropp family is Saturday
CAROLINE LOBSINGER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years AGO
I grew up in the Tri-Cities, Wash., and have always loved to write. I attended the University of Washington, where I earned a double major in journalism and political science, with an area of emphasis in history. I am the fifth out of six kids — don't believe any of the stories that my siblings tell. To be able to tell others stories and take photos for a living is a dream come true — and I considered myself blessed to be a community journalist. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking and spending time outdoors, genealogy, reading, and watching the UW Huskies and the Seattle Seahawks. I am a servant to my cat, Frankie, who yes, will eat anything and everything in sight … even wedding cookies. | January 8, 2020 12:00 AM
PRIEST RIVER — A Saturday fundraiser is planned to help the family of a Bonner County veteran killed in a motor vehicle crash on Veterans Day.
The Edgemere Grange is hosting a silent auction and bingo night on Saturday to help the Alan A. Ropp family with ongoing medical costs associated with the accident.
The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and be held at the grange, 3273 Bandy Road, Priest River. Food will be served starting at 5:30 p.m. and bidding on silent auction items will also begin at that time. Bingo games will start at 6 p.m.
Dinner is by donation. Bingo cards will cost $1 per round with 10 rounds of bingo planned.
Idaho State Police said Ropp, 44, was killed when his vehicle was rear-ended on U.S. Highway 2 and pushed into oncoming traffic near West Pine Street on Nov. 11.
Carson Thomas McCormick was headed eastbound in a Nissan pickup truck when he crashed into the back of Ropp’s Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicle, which placed it into the path of a westbound sport utility vehicle.
Ropp and his wife, Lisa, were en route to a Veterans Day dinner at the time of the crash, according to the GoFundMe.com post. Lisa Ropp, 33, was seriously injured in the collision and underwent surgery for a broken pelvis, collarbone, wrist and eye socket. After an extended stay at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation, Lisa Ropp was able to return home by Christmas Day, the page’s organizers, Sonny and Nadine Parker, said on the page
“Lisa is home!,” the Parkers said in a Dec. 20 update. “She is doing well and improving every day. She has PT nurses coming to work with her as well as therapists. Last night she got to attend her daughter’s dance recital! Absolute perfection! What a beautiful smile on her little girls face.”
The pair asked the community to keep the Lisa Ropp and their family in their thoughts and prayers as she continues her road to recovery.
“Thank you all for all the support she has already received,” they added. “She is extremely grateful.”
In addition to the GoFundMe account, which has raised $12,678 of its $25,000 goal, a variety of benefits and fundraisers have been held to benefit the family.
A celebration of Alan Ropp’s life is planned for Jan. 18, 2020.
No charges have been in connection with the crash, according to Idaho’s iCourt database.
Information: gofundme.com/f/vet-tragically-killed-en-route-to-vet-dinner
Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.
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