Julie Aagard

Funeral services for Julie Aagard will be Saturday, Nov 30, 1 p.m. in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Meadows ward Chapel. Family will greet friends Friday Nov 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Schwab Mortuary in Afton and again from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the church prior to the service. Julie Hopkin Aagard, 60, of Auburn, passed away peacefully Nov 25 2013 at the home of her parents, Burchell and Ruby Hopkin, in Powell, after a three year battle with cancer. She was born July 10, 1953, in Powell, the third in a family of six children. She grew up on the family farm where she learned the value of hard work, thinning and weeding beets and beans and driving tractors and trucks as she got older. Even though she enjoyed the outdoor work best, she learned to be an excellent cook and homemaker. She attended Powel High school and graduated in the class of 1971. After attending Brigham Young University graduating in 1975 with a degree in zoology. After graduation, she worked at the University of Utah Medical Center in the research lab where she was able to use her love of science. A year later she renewed a former friendship with Rick Aagard from Burlington after he returned from an LDS Mission and they were married March 16, 1977 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. They spent a year on the farm in Burlington and then moved to Provo, Utah where Rick worked at a furniture refinishing business and Julie did soil testing for Geotechnical Engineering Firm. In Provo their son Adam and daughter Allyson were born. In 1983 they moved to Star Valley, where they were employed as caretakers of the Tygee Ranch. A son, Andrew and daughter Amy were born during this time. They spent several happy years there before moving to Auburn where they had purchased some property and Rick resumed his furniture refinishing and artistic sign making, as well as remodeling of homes. In 1995 they constructed a beautiful three story home from an old 1898 barn that was on their property. Julie did all the electrical wiring as well as assisting with plumbing and painting. Julie worked part time as a substitute teacher and aid before becoming certified as a teacher by taking online classes and attending college classes at Precott Ariz. She started teaching science full time at Star Valley Middle School, completing nearly 20 years of teaching. In 2012 she was honored by the Wyoming VFW organization as "Wyoming Teacher of the Year" for her diligence in helping raise funds to provide an American flag for each classroom in the school. Her son, Andy passed away in 2009 and husband, Rick in 2011. She had great faith and looked at the bright side of every situation. A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, she held many positions as a teacher as well as president of the Relief Society and Primary. She was also a visiting teacher for many years. Her family brought her much joy and they enjoyed some special trips together to many places including Mexico, Guatemala and Alaska as well as numerous camping trips. She was overjoyed when her granddaughter, Maya, was born on Nov 16, 2912 and spent as much time as possible with her. She is survived by her children, Adam of Idaho Falls; Allyson Major of Sandy, Utah; Amy (Brandon) Robinson of Fort Worth Texas; and granddaughter Maya Major. Parents Burchell and Ruby Hopkin, sisters Heather (David) Wharton, of Las Vegas, Lynn (Dan) Bennion of Powell, brothers, Ross (Karren) Hopkin of Bountiful, Utah, Fred (Carrie) Hopkin of Powell and Mark (Karen) Hopkin of Eagle River, Alaska.