Dorothy Jane Putnam Minder

Dorothy Jane Putnam Minder, born Sept. 2, 1923 in Newark, N.J., to Naaman and Josephine Putnam, died peacefully at home in Wasilla on Sept. 13, 2008.

  She is survived by her daughters Judy (Theo) Michau-Grieve of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Laurie (Dennis) Dunbar of Maple Grove, Minn., Kimmerle Minder of Wasilla and Sally Avery of Wasilla; and son John Minder and his wife, Fran, of Shelton, Conn.

She was the beloved grandmother to John, Jennifer, Stephanie, Vonnie, Scott, Jeff and Greg. She has nine great-grandchildren and was looking forward to the birth of her first great-great grandchild in October.

Minder lived in Florida for 49 years after living in Hillside and Livingston, N.J. She had a wonderful career in the insurance industry and retired in 1985 from the City of Oakland Park, Fla.

  In November of 2005, her adventuresome spirit led her to Wasilla, where she found a home and will be fondly remembered in the warm hearts of her Alaska friends.

Acccording to her family, “Dorothy generously shared wine, laughter, her life and her love with so very many people from New Jersey to Florida to Alaska. In Dorothy’s own words, ‘It’s been a ‘helluva’ ride!!’”

There was a private memorial and Minder will be interred at Evergreen Cemetery & Crematorium in Hillside, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted at Mat-Su Regional Homecare & Hospice, 950 E. Bogard Rd. Ste. 132, Wasilla, AK 99654.

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