Friends are invited to attend the memorial service at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, at VFW Post 9365. Private interment will be Monday at Ft. Richardson National Cemetery.
Fikes was born May 14, 1934 in Sebastopol, Calif., and enjoyed gardening, gold prospecting, collecting antiques, pianos and especially old dolls, and spending time with her family. She was the wife of a 21-year Army veteran, with a son who served in the Army and a daughter in the Air Force. She came to Alaska in 1965, living in Eagle River as well as Big Lake.
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“Mom knew good things,” her family wrote. “She knew a good man when she met him, and married him. She knew how to support him in his chosen field and made sure his uniforms were pressed and dinner was waiting when he got home.
“She knew how to raise children and give them the tools they would need to make it through life; a critical and questioning mind was important, believing things just because someone said it was so, was not in our raising,” they wrote. “Puppies, kittens, horses and mules were. It never mattered what we did or how far we roamed, we always knew where home was, and that we were welcome there if we needed shelter from life’s storms.”
Her family said the simple things were important to Fikes: children’s birthdays, sitting by the lake with a fishing pole, watching the roses and puppies and children and grandchildren grow.
Fikes is survived by her husband of 59 years, Billy L. Fikes, of Big Lake; brothers Clifford Burke of Eureka, Cal., William Burke of Santa Rosa, Cal, and Donald Burke of Branson, Miss., sister Phyllis Gregson of Boise, Idaho; daughters Helen Hegener of Meadow Lakes, Linda Beasley of Tucson, Ariz., Susan Patch of Deer Park, Wash., and Sandra Jean Fikes of Big Lake; sons Lewis Monroe Fikes of Big Lake and Billy Fikes Jr. of Meadow Lakes; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Virginia and George, and brother George Burke, all of northern California.
Valley Funeral Homes & Crematory of Palmer and Wasilla is assisting the family.
Comments
5 comment(s)Bill J Fikes Bubby wrote on Mar 9, 2009 7:05 AM:
\Europe.
Our hearts are with her family and mern for their loss. "
Phyllis Gregson wrote on Sep 26, 2008 5:32 PM:
We grew up together,Big Family 4 boys
2 silly Girls,We were always having Fun & Adventure. Always living out on a Ranch,We had Horses & Rode a lot !She
was always the Brave one,I was always the shrinking Violet ! When Grown she
Married a Military Man,and lived in many
Foreign countries,That I have only heard
of !She chose Alaska for Retirement,
because she was a Pioneer ! And wanted Her Kids to be Pioneer Families,And they are! "I Love you and will miss you
always" Phyllis: "
Mary Nix wrote on Sep 26, 2008 7:00 AM:
I know she will be sorely missed and like Susan, I have been helped by the work Helen has provided the homeschool community many, many times.
I just wanted to stop by and send my family's love and hugs to each of you.
Mary Nix and family "
Susan Ryan wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:02 AM:
Looking at her life, it's not surprising to see how a daughter like Helen could do so much good in the homeschool community. Raising children who look around and want to make our world better is a wonderful legacy to leave in this world.
I wish you good thoughts and hope for comfort and good laughs with all of your loved ones. "
Billy Fikes wrote on Sep 21, 2008 11:48 PM: