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Annie Swanson Hatch
Alaska Native Annie Swanson Hatch died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001, at Wesley Rehabilitation and Care Center in Seward. She was 102.
Memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Seward Methodist Church. Her ashes will be buried in Florence, Ore.
Mrs. Hatch was born May 15, 1899, in Unalaska and was raised at the Jesse Lee Home there. She lived in Unalaska, Halibut Cove, Seldovia, Seward, Hope and Mountain View. She also lived in Oregon from 1970 to 1985. Mrs. Hatch worked at the Jesse Lee Home for five years.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Moose Lodge in Florence, Ore., a senior center and Homemakers. Mrs. Hatch was honored by the Aleut Corporation with a special award. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, playing cards and having tea with her friends.
"Her home was always open to those in need. She affected the lives of many during her 102 years. She was dearly loved, " her family said.
Mrs. Hatch was preceded in death by her husband, Peter; daughters, Florence and Helen; and a son, Jesse. She is survived by her son, Ralph, of Seward; daughter, Julia, of Puyallup, Wash.; 13 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be given to the Seward Senior Center or the Seward United Methodist Church.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Funeral Home.
Leslie Gordon Augustson
Anchorage resident Leslie Gordon Augustson died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003, at Providence Extended Care Center in Anchorage of natural causes. He was 85.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. today, Jan. 4, at the Sterling Senior Center.
Mr. Augustson was born Jan. 8, 1918, in Helma, Minn. He was a veteran of World War II and was awarded three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.
A resident of Alaska since 1964, Mr. Augustson lived in Sterling, Eagle River and Anchorage. He retired from the Civil Service in 1974.
Mr. Augustson was a member of the VFW, the Moose Lodge and Sterling Senior Center. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting and fishing.
"He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and always wanted to help others. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, " his family said.
Mr. Augustson was preceded in death by his wife, Betty H. Augustson.
He is survived by his daughters, Vicki A. Fant of Anchorage and Nora Victory of Eagle River; daughter and son-in-law, Diann A. and Vasco Avila of Hanford, Calif.; son, John R. Augustson of Elsie, Neb.; grandsons, Patrick S. Fant of Anchorage, Steven Avila, David Avila and John R. Augustson Jr.; granddaughters, Carrie Rosa, Shanna Augustson, Erin E. Augustson; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage.
Juanita Viola (Campbell) 'Jonni' Frank
Soldotna resident Juanita Viola (Campbell) Frank, better known as Jonni, died Saturday, July 17, 2004, in Anchorage, with her daughters at her side. She was 81.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 31, at the Soldotna Senior Citizens Center, followed by a potluck celebration of life at 2 p.m. the VFW Post in Soldotna. Another memorial service also will e held in Cordova at a later date.
Mrs. Frank was born Aug. 5, 1922, in Mullen Idaho. She came to Alaska as a young woman and spent most of those years raising a family and working. Her many jobs included fishing, cooking, construction work and health care service. In later years, she became known for her volunteer work. She spent many hours at The Salvation Army store in Cordova and assisted in publishing the 1994 senior citizen fund-raising cookbook. After moving to Soldotna, she volunteered reading to grade-school children for four yeas. She was rewarded for her efforts by being named "Grandmother of the Year" in 2003, and recently received the Significant Service Award from the city of Soldotna. She was one of the oldest foster grandparents in the volunteer program and the first to reach four years of service.
Mrs. Frank is survived by her children, Tommi Frank of Soldotna, Perri Nicholoff of Fairbanks, Sherri Waller of Gonzales, La., Tracey Wooden of Dutch Harbor and Virginia Lemm of Kent, Wash.; grandchildren, Brandon Pierre Nicholoff of Fairbanks, Crystal DeVille and Martin Wooden, both of Cordova, Marina Olsen of Dutch Harbor, Darcell Prescott of Everett, Wash., Candace and Rushell Roetman, Coral Lyn Frank and Jerry Kelly Estes, all of Soldotna, and John, Mike, Doug and Danny Lemm, all of Kent; nine great-grandchildren; and an extended family of friends in Cordova and Kenai.
Arrangements were made by Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage.
Margaret Deborah Wirz
Longtime Kenai resident Margaret Deborah Wirz died Monday, July 26, 2004, surrounded by her family at her home in Kenai. She was 78.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 28, at Peninsula Memorial Chapel, 5839 Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai. Mrs. Wirz will be laid to rest next to her husband, Neil Wirz, at the McGahan Cemetery in Nikiski.
Mrs. Wirz was born Nov. 9, 1925, to Hilmer and Jenny Olson in Squaw Harbor. She studied at Mount Edgecumbe High School in Sitka and graduated from the Wrangell Institute in Wrangell. She worked at Wildwood Air Force Base and the National Bank of Alaska, as well as volunteered with the Kenaitze Head Start Program. She enjoyed attending elders lunch and spending time with her grandchildren.
"Margaret was a devoted mother and wife. She was very understanding, was a wonderful cook and made everyone welcome into her home, " her family said.
Mrs. Wirz was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Neil Wirz; and her grandson, Jesse Dale Wirz.
She is survived by her sons, Gary and Robert Wirz; daughters, Connie Wirz, Charmaine Lundy, Penny Carty and Joclyn Graham; sister, Lillian Meadows; grandchildren, Bertrum Lundy, Calvin Lundy, Nickolas Wirz, Michael Wirz, Eric Carty and Heather Daniels; and great-great-grandchildren, Keegan, Korbin, Alexis and Alexandria.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Tyotkas Elders Program, P.O. Box 988, Kenai, AK 99611.
Larry E. Oskolkoff
Ninilchik and Anchorage resident Larry E. Oskolkoff died Sunday, Aug. 1, 2004, after a struggle with cancer. He was 63.
Family and friends are invited to attend services at Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Church in Ninilchik.
The Panihida prayer service will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6. Presiding will be Priest Daniel Andrejuk, Archpriest Marcarius Targonsky and Archpriest Simeon Oskolkoff.
Arrangements were made by Evergreen Memorial Chapel.
Mary Louise Olds
Longtime Kenai resident Mary Louise Olds died Monday, July 26, 2004, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna from injuries sustained from a car accident. She was 75.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Aug. 2, at Kenai Christian Church, 104 McKinley St. in Kenai. Rev. Robert DeVolld will officiate. Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2, at the Kenai City Cemetery. A gathering and potluck will follow at the Olds' residence.
Pallbearers will include Steve Olds, Clancy O'Neill, Jesse Peck, Jason Espinoza, David Faulkner and Mike Shaffer.
Mrs. Olds was born March 8, 1929, in Mooreland, Okla., and attended Woodward and Sepulpa High Schools. In 1945, she married Ray Olds when she was 16 years old. They moved to California and had four children and then moved to Alaska in 1965 during Alaska's oil boom years.
"Marylou made her home open and welcomed a constant stream of family, friends and neighbors stopping by to chat and have coffee. 'Nana' made the best cookies, pies, soup and gumbo. She had a special quality of seeing the good in everyone, focusing on the potential and offering much encouragement. Her husband, Ray, of 58 years, her children and grandchildren will miss her dearly, " her family said.
Mrs. Olds enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, reading tarot cards, working in her flower garden, cooking, baking, reading, doing crossword puzzles and having political discussions.
Mrs. Olds was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Edna Simmons; daughter, Raye Cheryl Espinoza; granddaughters, Lori Espinoza, Lisa Espinoza, Sherylynn Shaffer and Mariah Shaffer; and grandson, Kevin Faulkner.
She is survived by her husband, Ray C. Olds of Kenai; daughters, Kay Faulkner of Kenai and Debi Arness of Soldotna; son, Steve Olds of Kenai; granddaughters, Vicki Espinoza of Anchorage, Teresa Espinoza of Kenai, Leah Gruver of Palmer and Andrea Peck of Soldotna; grandsons, Arthur Arness of Soldotna, David Faulkner of Kent, Wash., Jason Espinoza of Kenai, Jesse Peck of Boise, Idaho, and Mike Shaffer of Kenai; sisters, Francine Robinson of Tulsa, Okla., Wynetta Cochran of Ridgecrest, La., and Sue Mapes of Reno, Nev.; brothers, Perry Simmons of Coos Bay, Ore., and Keith Simmons of Colo.; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Flowers would be gratefully appreciated or memorial contributions may be sent to the Olds family, P.O. Box 225, Kenai, AK 99611.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Ben Rule
Longtime Alaskan Ben Rule died Sunday, July 25, 2004, at his home in Anchorage surrounded by his wife, children and brother. He was 70.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 30, at the Teamsters Local No. 959 Building, 520 W. 34th Ave. in Anchorage.
Mr. Rule was born Oct. 5, 1933, in Phillipsburg, Kan., to Vyrus and Vivian Rule. His family moved to Steamboat Springs, Colo., in 1938, where he attended Steamboat Springs High School, graduating in 1951. He married Rieta Webber on June 6, 1954.
He moved his family to Alaska in 1957, making their first home in Sutton. In 1961, they moved to Soldotna and in 1966 they moved to their current home in Anchorage.
He worked as a Teamster line driver, accomplishing more than 30 years of accident-free driving. Mr. Rule was a devoted and respected member of Teamster Local No. 959 and remained an active union supporter throughout his life.
After his retirement in 1991, he stayed busy as a diesel mechanic and continued to help his wife with selling Horizon Lubricant products.
"Ben loved fishing, motor-homing, boating in Homer, playing guitar, writing songs and poetry, and most of all good times with family and friends. He was a generous man who lived every day to its fullest. His guidance, good humor and storytelling will be missed. His bravery during his short battle with cancer was inspirational, " his family said.
Mr. Rule was preceded in death by his parents, Vyrus and Vivian Rule; and brothers, Verle Rule and Raymond Rule.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rieta; son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Leslie Rule; daughters and sons-in-law, Benita and Brian Hamilton, Karen and John Hill, and Barbara (Gussie) and Mike Inman; grandchildren, Heather Russell, Martin Hood, Jeanette Borghols, Korynn Joyner, Joe Joyner, Brenda Joyner, Cody Inman, Jake Inman and Stephanie Rule; great-grandchildren, Kain Joyner, Caleb Borghols and Kole Russell; brother, Jimmie Rule of Hotchkiss, Colo.; and an extended family of friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Anchorage at 500 W. International Airport Road, Suite C, Anchorage, AK 99518.
Arrangements were made by Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage.
Elizabeth 'Beth' J. Cassidy
Former Kenai Peninsula resident Beth Cassidy died Wednesday, July 14, 2004, at her home in the company of family. She was 47.
Her husband, Jeff, and son, Caz, will host a celebration of her life at their home Saturday, July 31.
Mrs. Cassidy was born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and raised in Hudson, Ohio. She came to Alaska in 1978, living in Clam Gulch, then Kasilof for 12 years, and then in Homer from 1990 to 1993.
She broke gender barriers in the seafood processing industry, becoming one of the state's first female harbor masters.
Her son, Dyer Cassidy "Caz" VanDevere, was born in 1987, and the family moved to the Seattle area in 1993 to pursue Mrs. Cassidy's career in art.
Mrs. Cassidy began her dedication to art at the age of 8. Her work - self-taught - evolved through a broad range of media, culminating in functional and decorative fiber work and mixed media sculpture. She became a nationally acclaimed fiber artist, winning awards since 1988. Recent honors included the Excellence in Textiles Award at the Philadelphia Furniture and Furnishings Show and the Award of Excellence at the Bellevue (Wash.) Art Museum Fair. Her work has been exhibited at venues, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of American Craft in New York, and the Sculpture Objects and Functional Art Exposition (SOFA) in Chicago. She and her husband, Jeff Brice, were featured in Surface Design Magazine, Winter 2002, for their collaborative design work.
"Throughout her life, she has been held in high esteem by her fellow artists for her tremendous support, inspiration and generous spirit. Beth's creativity and energy had no bounds. Her every action generated beauty, from her art to her business, her home, her gardens and her relationships with family and friends, " her family said.
"She is remembered by friends as an awesome powerhouse of productivity in art and daily living. But her intensive work ethic never overcame her penchant for generosity. Time for family, friends and community service was always her priority. Making and giving gifts was one of her greatest pleasures. In her extended family, Beth was the one to seek out distant relations and maintain family archives.
"Her strong will, determination and constant effort took her far in her short life. She achieved success in her career and great happiness in her family but even her extraordinary positive energy was not enough to overcome an aggressive cancer. The depth and breadth of her impact on the world is reflected in the enormous void left by her passing."
An education fund or artist grant foundation may be arranged for memorial donations. For more information, visit bethcassidy.com on the Internet.
Donald Ray Gattenby
Longtime Soldotna resident Donald Ray Gattenby died Saturday, July 17, 2004, at his home in Soldotna. He was 56.
A celebration of Mr. Gattenby's life will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, July 26, at the Masonic Temple in Soldotna.
Mr. Gattenby was born May 20, 1948, in Ada, Okla., where he spent a short time before moving to California, where he was raised. He had first moved to Alaska in 1968 and has resided in Soldotna and Homer and worked in the oil field, as a mechanic, welder, craftsman and commercial fisher all around the Kenai Peninsula.
Mr. Gattenby was a Christian. He enjoyed collecting hearts, as well as gold mining and prospecting.
"Donald was a man of many talents. Filled with love for life, family and friends, he was always willing to help many, " his family said.
Mr. Gattenby was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Lee Gattenby; father, D.G. "Buck" Gattenby; brothers, Delbert and David Gattenby; sisters, Dorothy Leach and Diana Allmon; and niece, Jessica Allmon.
He is survived by his son, Shelby Don Gattenby of Dodge City, Kan.; daughters, Gretchen Rae Kelly of Konawa, Okla., and Anne Lorraine Gattenby of Alameda, Calif.; granddaughter, Brianna Lee Gattenby of Konawa; grandson, Bryan Thomas Murphy of Konawa; sister, Doris Gattenby of Kenai; brother, David Allmon; former spouse, Phyllis Gattenby of Dodge City; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family C/O Doris Gattenby, 47515 Ciechanski, Kenai, AK 99611.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
