I Read Obituaries

Mom read the obituaries,  I thought it was weird.  I started reading them last fall when we subscribed to the Anchorage Daily News (ADN).  So now it isn't weird anymore.

Obituaries can be really interesting.  Reflected in them are bits and pieces of history and culture.  They give life to dry facts I've picked up about Alaska from visiting museums and validate descriptions of Alaskan culture and history found in books written by my favorite Alaskan author, Dana Stabenow.

Matanuska Valley Colony

Remember that I am a Virginian and attended  William and Mary, which is located next to historic Colonial Williamsburg.  My first thoughts when reading the words settler or colonist go to the people that came to Virginia in the 1600 and 1700's.   I learned last fall that 203 families from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan settled in the Matanuska Valley in 1935.  These families became the experimental farming community known as the Matanuska Valley Colony, one of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal plans.  Families often mention being one of these settlers or the child of one of these settlers in their loved one's obituary.

Kent Sandvik

Jun 24, 1933 - Mar 16, 2023

One of the early settlers of the Matanuska Valley from the mainland United States, Kent Sandvik, 89, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2023.

Kent was born on June 24, 1933, in Moose Lake, Minn. When he was just one year old, his family along with 202 other families settled in the Matanuska Valley in Palmer, Alaska, as part of Roosevelt's New Deal. His was one of 20 families to remain long-term in the valley.

Alice Elizabeth (Chmiel) Dial

Sep 26, 1945 - Feb 6, 2023

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, to Gladys Larson Chmiel and Stanley Chmiel, Alice graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1963. Gladys, along with siblings and parents Fred and Laura Larson, were original Colonists in the Matanuska Valley, arriving in 1935. The family had a potato farm in Palmer, where Alice spent many childhood summers planting, tending crops and harvesting.

Charles "Chuck" Weiler

Apr 26, 1937 - Oct 11, 2022

Chuck was born on April 26, 1937, in Palmer, Alaska, to Matanuska Valley Colonists Nicholas and Elsa Weiler.

The 1964 Alaskan Earthquake / The Great Alaskan Earthquake / The Good Friday Earthquake

The earthquake occurred on Good Friday March 27, 1964.  We watched a great film about it when we visited the Alaska Public Lands Visitor Center in Anchorage.  BB and I also listened to recordings of survivors describing their experiences of the earthquake when we visited the Seward Community Library and Museum.

See BB's  02-09-2023 post, An Alaskan Nugget - The Good Friday Earthquake, for more history on the earthquake.

The family that wrote this obituary had to have a sense of humor:

Lois Beyer

Jul 19, 1935 - Mar 1, 2023

Son Tim was born in 1963, and he enjoyed rocking in a chair during the great '64 earthquake. The rest of the family was not so happy with the devastation caused by that quake.

1862 Homestead Act

I grew up watching westerns.  My favorites were Bonanza and High Chaparral.  You can't watch these shows without learning about homesteading.   What surprised me was that a person could still homestead in the 1960s.

The Homestead Act of 1862 granted adult heads of families 160 acres of surveyed public land for a minimal filing fee and five years of continuous residence on that land.  The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ending homesteading in the lower 48 states.  Homesteading continued in Alaska until 1986.  The last homesteading claim was made by Ken Deardorff for 80 acres of land near Stony River in southwest Alaska.

Patrick Mahoney

Mar 24, 1938 - Mar 11, 2023

Pat perfected his homestead claim on Fish Creek by Big Lake and was granted his deed on March 9, 1964, under the May 20, 1862 Homestead Act. He and Jean raised their family at the homestead until moving to Eagle River, Alaska, in the 1960s, and the family continued to enjoy many happy times at their first home.

Mary Jean Yenney

Oct 1, 1931 - Feb 26, 2023

In 1955, they homesteaded in Homer, Alaska, on Ohlson Mt. Road. Jean loved the homestead as it reminded her of Nome. She worked as a bookkeeper in Homer, among a variety of other jobs. In 1992, Jean brought reindeer down from White Mountain to the homestead on a cargo plane and started the Kaguna Reindeer Ranch.

(FYI:  Reindeer are also called caribou in North America. They are a deer species that are specialized for living in the cold climates across the Arctic. Reindeer and Caribou are technically the same species with some differences. Reindeer are predominantly in Europe, and are often domesticated.)

WWII Attu POWs 

I recommend author Dana Stabenow and her series of books featuring Kate Shugak.  This description of Kate is copied from an Amazon review:

Kate Shugak is a native Aleut working as a private investigator in Alaska. She's five foot tall, carries a scar that runs from ear to ear across her throat, and owns a half-wolf, half-husky dog named Mutt. Resourceful, strong-willed, defiant, Kate is tougher than your average heroine – and she needs to be to survive the worst the Alaskan wilds can throw at her.

In several of these books Kate describes how forced relocation during WWII brought the Aleuts to Southcentral Alaska.  The Museum of the North in Fairbanks has an informative display that describes how the Aleuts from Attu were taken POW by the Japanese and transported to Japan.  The display also describes the suffering the Aleuts endured after they were relocated to Southcentral Alaska.

Elizabeth Kudrin

Feb 16, 1941 - Feb 19, 2023

Elizabeth Olean (Golodoff) Kudrin, 82, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, at 7:37 a.m. May our merciful God grant her rest in blessed repose and make her memory to be eternal.

Known to those who knew and loved her as "Liz," she lived a truly remarkable and extraordinary life. Liz was born on Feb. 16, 1941, in the village of Attu, an island at the far western end of the Aleutian islands of Alaska. She was only a year old in 1942 when Japanese troops invaded the village of Attu during World War II and all the villagers were captured and taken to Japan as Prisoners of War, where they remained for three years. After their return to Alaska, the United States government and military denied the Attuans' return to their island. Liz and her family were among the Attu survivors who were relocated to the village of Atka in the Central Aleutians, which would become her new home village.

Potlatch

Wikipedia's  definition of potlatch:

A potlatch is a gift-giving feast practiced by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and the United States 

In Stabenow's books, Kate Shugak attends several potlatches.  Kate organizes one in memory of her Grandmother after her Grandmother's death.  People gather to celebrate, feast on great food, dance and receive gifts.

Roxy Ann Venner

Nov 2, 1946 - Feb 6, 2023

Roxy Ann Venner, a member of the Chitina Village Tribe, Udzisyu clan, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Feb. 6, 2023, after a brief illness.
A memorial service for Roxy is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, from 2-4 p.m., at the Anchorage Funeral Home. A second memorial service will be held at the Kluti-Kaah Multi-use Complex on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at 1 p.m., to be followed by her burial and then a traditional Ahtna Athabascan potlatch.

Airplanes

There are lots of private planes in Alaska.  Planes are an important mode of transportation here.  Bush pilots are trained to fly into remote areas.  Bush pilots are essential for transporting supplies, food, and people to hard-to-reach places across Alaska.

See 09-30-2022 post 'Alaska - Interesting Facts' for more on the importance of planes in Alaska.

Merrill Wien

Apr 4, 1930 - Jan 8, 2023

On Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, notable Alaska pilot Merrill Wien, a loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away, at age 92, with his family at his side.

Merrill was born on April 4, 1930, to Noel and Ada Wien and into a famous flying family in Alaska. He flew in the bush in Alaska, as well as WWII trainers, bombers and transports in the Air Force, and later airliners as a pilot for Pan Am and Wien Air Alaska. He ushered in the jet age to Alaska and later flew wide-body aircraft all around the world.

After retiring, he flew sightseeing flights for his friend Lowell Thomas Jr. over Denali, worked as a test pilot for the Soloy Corporation in Olympia, Wash., and flew freight in a C-46 out of Fairbanks, Alaska, for Evert's Air Cargo as a "retirement job."

Sal

Iditarod: Restart in Willow (03-05-2023)

BB and I dropped by Iditarod Race Headquarters at the LakeFront Anchorage the Wednesday before the race to ask about shuttles to the Restart in Willow.   We heard that traffic and parking were bad in Willow.  We also didn't want to chance driving there in case the weather turned bad.  We got good information about the shuttle and learned what facilities would be available for the spectators.  We also saw some interesting trucks parked in the hotel's parking lot.

We (Jack, Ann, BB, Sal) are on the 11:00am shuttle leaving the Lakefront for Willow. We are surprised that the bus is a school bus.  BB and I are disappointed that the windows are dirty as the drive to Willow is scenic and we hoped that Jack and Ann would be able to enjoy the view. Oh, well.  Even with the dirty windows we safely arrive in Willow around 11:45.  We have plenty of time to find a place to watch the 2:00pm Restart. It is a cold but sunny day.  Lots of people.  We can see the mushers and dogs but are not allowed to go near them.  Today everyone gets serious.

Our shuttle bus.

If only the windows were clean!

Here is how a March 5, 2016 post on the Iditarod EDU site describes the Restart:

The restart happens the day after the Ceremonial Start. It usually starts in Willow but that is dependent on the amount of snow in the area. The mood is much more serious. The mushers and teams are preparing for a long race and are very focused. While the fans come to watch the start, they do not mingle among the teams, talk to the mushers or pet the dogs. Instead of an Iditarider, the sleds have a sled bag full of supplies for their journey. And there is no drag sled. The mushers can have up to 16 dogs at the restart. Most mushers do start with 16. Once they leave the restart line, they’re off on their great adventure to Nome.

Note: Rules about number of dogs must have changed.  A musher can start the race with no more than 14 or fewer than 12 dogs. 

PETA is present.  My opinion, that I hope is correct, is that most of the Iditarod mushers are ethical and responsible.  There are some bad apples; however, doesn't every profession have bad apples?   My opinion is heavily influenced by things I've heard about Nicolas Petit. I asked 2 of his crew at the Mushers Gala Banquet what they thought of PETA's view of the Iditarod and sled dog races in general.  They went into detail describing how Nick takes care of his dogs.  One of the crew members said she originally worked in animal rescue and had a low opinion of sled dog racing.  Getting to know Nick and then working with him and his dogs changed her mind.  She said Nick has dropped out of or scratched from races because his dogs  weren't feeling it or he could tell they weren't having fun.   I am following Nick during the Iditarod.  The first few days he was in the top 10 but dropped down to 17th position as the race went on.   During an interview I listened as Nick said a couple of his dogs were thinner than he wanted them to be.  He said he wasn't in the race anymore; instead he is out for a run with his dogs.  He made the choice to slow his pace down for the benefit of his dogs.

PETA.

We cheer for Nicolas Petit and Hunter Keefe.  We watch 25 or 26 of the 32 mushers start.  We begin making our way back toward the buses.  The buses back are first come first served and we want to be on the 4:00 bus back to Anchorage.  We do get on the 4:00 bus and while the windows aren't clean they are not as dirty as the bus windows on the ride out.

Sal, BB and Ann.

Eddie Burke.

Bridgett Watkins.

Jason Mackey.

Sal

Iditarod: Ceremonial Start in Anchorage (03-04-2023)

The Ceremonial Start of the Iditarod takes place in Anchorage.   Dog teams run an 11 mile route which does not officially count in the race standings.  This start gives spectators a great opportunity to view the teams and cheer for their favorite musher.

A March 5, 2016 post on the Iditarod EDU site describes the Ceremonial Start as the 'Party Start':

The ceremonial start is what I and only I call the “party” start. It takes place on the first Saturday of March in Downtown Anchorage. The mood is festive. The dogs trucks and teams are lined up and down 4th Avenue in starting order. Fans are able to talk to the mushers, take pictures, and sometimes even pet the dogs. There’s nothing better than a good belly rub before a long run. The dogs are also wearing bandanas or special team dog coats. Only 12 dogs run on the start team instead of the usual 16. A few of these dogs may not have made the final team but are able to run in the Ceremonial start as long as they passed their vet check.

There are also two other main differences between the two starts. At the Ceremonial Start, an Iditarider gets to ride in the sled basket. An Iditarider is a person who won a bid in an auction for this privilege. Each team has an Iditarider in their sled. The teams also have a dragsled. A drag sled is a second sled attached to the back of the first sled. The driver of the dragsled is experienced in mushing. The reason for the dragsled is help slow down the team. The dogs are so excited and there are so many people along the trail that using only 12 dogs, and having a dragsled makes it a safer run for all involved.

Saturday we (BB, brother Jack, sister-in-law Ann, Sal) are at the ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage.  It is sunny with a temperature in the single digits.  It may be cold but there are still lots of crowds and loads of excitement!  The dogs are excited and barking....you can hear them from 3 blocks away.  As it is the ceremonial start many of the mushers have a rider in their sled.  Maybe a Make A Wish child or someone who won the ride in an auction.

The Starting Line.

Jack and Ann at the Starting Line.

A team races down 4th Avenue.

An Unknown Iditarider.

Sal

Iditarod: Mushers Meet and Greet & Banquet Gala (03-02-2023)

We are interested in the Iditarod, the Last Great Race!  We learn there is a Mushers Meet and Greet and a Mushers Banquet Gala.  Go we must!

The evening starts at 4:00 with the Meet and Greet.  We are handed Iditarod 2023 posters of a photo by Jeff Schultz as we walk in the door at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center. All the mushers are here. Each is stationed at a table ready to greet fans and autograph posters.  Fans, this includes us, hope to get the posters signed by all 33 mushers.  Fans line up in front of each of the tables.  Lines for the more well known mushers are very long.  I notice the lines in front of the lessor known mushers are much shorter and hope their feelings aren't hurt. It becomes hard to keep track of which signatures I do and do not have.  I tell one musher  that they are just like doctors because I can't read the signatures.  BB and I join forces to obtain as many signatures as we can.  One of us stands in a longer line while the other takes the 2 posters and stands in a shorter line.  This works well for us.  We end up with about 22 signatures.  The mushers seem to enjoy interacting with the fans and each other.  The Berrington twins and the father/son Vitellos push their tables together so fans can meet both family members at the same time.  It is interesting hearing the mushers' stories and talking with  other fans.

We head to the Banquet Gala at 5:30.  There is opportunity to participate in a silent auction that benefits the Iditarod.  The item we want is way out of our budget; like $8,000! The item is a camping/sled dog trip with Jeff King and his dogs.  That would be an experience! At dinner we are seated at a table for 10.  Musher Nicolas Petit is at our table with 2 of his crew.  I enjoy talking with them. I ask the crew members whether retired sled dogs make good pets and I am told they do.  Now I want one.  Hunter Keefe's name comes up.  Nick's crew told us he worked with them for a while.  They spoke highly of Nick and Hunter.  We decide to root for Nick and Hunter.  Dinner is steak, asparagus and potatoes and tastes great!  (It's been a while since I had steak). Activities continue during the meal.  There is a moving tribute to Lance Mackey, 4 time winner of the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest who died last September.  When it is time for the Bib Draw the mushers  draw for their official start order.  Nick draws start position 8 and Hunter start position #11.

Our Autographed Poster.

BB with Kelly Maixner.

Sal with Mille Porsild.

BB with Hunter Keefe.

Eddie Burke.

Ryan Redington.

Anna and Kristy Berington with unknown fan.

BB at our table.

Us at our table.

BB enjoyed talking with these tablemates about their travels in Alaska.  They were recently at Chena Hot Springs.

Us with Nicolas Petit.

Sal

Fur Rondy: Running of the Reindeer (03-04-2023)

The Running of the Reindeer has been a Fur Rondy event for 15 years.  It is a fund raiser for Toys for Tots.  Participants run with 21 Reindeer in one of four herds: Guys, Gals, Couples or Tourists.

Each reindeer has a handler.  Handlers walk the reindeer to the start line. Participants have a 15 second head start on the reindeer.  Do you wonder what makes the reindeer run after the participants?  Pheromones sprayed at the finish line!

Many of the participants showed up in costumes.  I saw snowmen, human reindeer, Santa Clause and super heroes.  Between the antics of the crowd, participants and reindeer, this was an entertaining event to watch.

This Anchorage Daily News article includes great photos of the race. 

Additional Running of the Reindeer  photos, plus Outhouse Race photos, at this Anchorage Daily News page.

Sal

Fur Rondy: Charlotte Jensen Native Arts Market (03-01-2023)

I want to know why the market was named after Charlotte Jensen.  The answer is found on the Fur Rondy site:

A Tribute to Charlotte Jensen

The market is named for Charlotte Jensen as a tribute to her many years of service and her love of all things Rondy. She was a Past President, Former Lady Trapper, Vern Johnson Award-winner, and long-time board member of Greater Anchorage Inc. since the 1970s. Charlotte was also Chairperson of the Merchandise Committee and the Native Arts Market.

Char was an integral part of Rondy’s recent return to success. She had faith that the festival was important to too many people and that Alaskans wouldn’t let it disappear. She was always available to give her time and expertise whenever she was asked. Her history and experience were a source for all to draw on and her loss is felt on many levels. She is greatly missed.

BB and I really enjoyed the Native Arts and Crafts Market we attended last October during the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Conference.  We liked looking at the arts and crafts and talking with the vendors.  For more about that Market see BB's October post 'This craft show was a cultural extravaganza.'

The Fur Rondy Charlotte Jensen Native Arts Market is held at the Dimond Center Mall.  Over 125 Native Artisans representing a large variety of arts and crafts are present.  We see jewelry made of beadwork, silver, baleen, antlers and horn.  Other vendors have furs, from pelts to fur hats, collars and gloves.  Carvers have brought items carved from ivory and antler to sell. Just like last fall it is interesting to talk with vendors and ask about their work.  One vendor shows us Eskimo yoyos and how to use them. 

We make purchases from the same vendor.   BB purchases a pair of sheepskin lined leather with sea otter trimmed mittens.  I buy a pair of seal skin mittens with sea otter trim and beadwork.

Me, my new mittens and the artist who created them.

Sal

Fur Rondy: Blanket Toss (03-03-2023)

The blanket toss originated as a way to see into the distance. The blanket toss was originally used to sight game while hunting. It is now used during celebrations and gatherings.  The blanket toss is one of games in the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO).  BB and I have plans to attend the WEIO in Fairbanks in July.

The Fur Rondy Blanket Toss surprises me.  I thought it would be a demonstration.  No! It is a group participation activity.

The Blanket Toss is scheduled to begin at 5:30.  When BB and I arrive at 5:15 there are 2 or 3 photographers and 3 or 4 other spectators gathered at the event location.  We see a rolled up tarp, which we assume has the blanket inside.

Soon two men come and unroll the tarp.  Yes, a blanket is inside.  It is made of hide, walrus if I remember correctly.  It is circular with rope handles around the edges.

The men explain we need 32 people before the toss can begin.  This is when we realize this is not a demonstration.  An assortment of 32 adult volunteers are needed to work the blanket.  By 5:40 we have the volunteers needed to begin.  And yes I volunteered!

The men explain how it works.  We don't shake the blanket up and down; we lean in and out. He points out that we are working with the person opposite from us on the blanket. I notice that the Princesses and Fur Rondy pin creator are participating.  Princess Dakoma and her Mother have positions on the blanket opposite me! The men have us practice a gentle rhythmic up and down rhythm before saying Go!  On go we lean back further which makes the blanket even tauter and the person on the blanket goes high in the air! 

The toss is mainly for the children.  The men explain that 10 children will each get 2 tosses then 2 adults will have 2 tosses.  The men challenge the kids to land on their feet. Any person landing on their feet gets unlimited tosses!

Several of the children almost land on their feet.  They get one extra toss. Then it is Princes Dakoma's turn.  She lands squarely on her feet!  We think she has either done this before or is a gymnast.

The blanket - hidden.

The blanket - appears.

I helped!

Princesses!

Queen Jana takes a turn.

Princess Dakoma lands on her feet!

BB had fun taking pictures!

Sal

Fur Rondy: Melodrama and Aurora Hunting (02-26-2023)

 

A MELODRAMA (a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions) has been a popular and fun Fur Rondy event for 32 years.  Members of Alaska Sound Celebration, Alaska's premier women's a cappella chorus, write and produce the play, build sets , make costumes and perform in the show.

BB, friend Terri and I attend a Sunday evening performance. The show is held in the theater at 49th State Brewery.

This year's melodrama is 'Peaceful....Well It Was!'  A villain with evil intent comes to the town of Peaceful. The heroine and her grandmother are in mortal danger. And of course a hero arrives to save the day.

The audience is encouraged to participate with these suggestions; hiss when the villain appears, ahh for the heroine and choo-choo for the train.  Before the show starts members make their way amongst the audience selling popcorn...and they sell LOTS of it.  Once the show starts I find out why.  The audience isn't buying popcorn to eat...but to throw!  Heavy showers of popcorn are thrown at the villain; often heavy enough that the actor pauses and waits for it to stop.  (Actually, his pause seems to egg the popcorn throwers on!).  The audience also enjoys randomly throwing popcorn at other audience members. When we stand up during intermission and after the show popcorn falls off of us. The floor is carpeted with popcorn when we leave

 We stay at 49th State for a  late dinner.  49th State is where I discovered halibut last summer.  I enjoy my dinner of halibut fish and chips. BB and Terri are healthy and have salads.

Since we are out late BB and I decide to go Aurora Hunting before heading home.  We strike gold!  While driving out to Woronzof Point we comment on the traffic.  There is a steady stream of cars on the road.  We pass by Airport Park and notice the full parking lot.  We don't even try to park at the Point, but turn around to park beside Northern Lights Blvd on the hill above the Point.  This is when we see the lights!  We view them from the Coastal Trail on the hill above the road. We realize we missed the majority of this display, but they are still active enough to be worth seeing.  They fade away after 15 or 20 minutes. Back in the car we check the Aurora Alerts site and the predictions are 100% for seeing them on the horizon and overhead.  We wait. Nothing. We leave to see if we can view them from Lynn Ary Park.  We see the parking lot lights at Lynn Ary and think the Park isn't a good spot for viewing.  We are winding our way through the neighborhood back to the main road when BB exclaims 'They're out!  Look up!' I stop the car at the first intersection and we hop out.  The Aurora is amazing! Spectacular! It is all over the sky!  Here we are, 12:30 at night, viewing the lights, quietly ohing and awing and hoping the neighbors don't call the police on us.


Apparently this Aurora display was exceptional.  It is all over the morning's news. The pictures in this Anchorage Daily News article are worth looking at.

Waiting for the show to start.

Moose antler chandelier.

The Lights!

Sal