Aug. 13, 2006

Alice Catherine Kasgnoe

Alice Catherine Kasgnoe died from complications due to pancreatic cancer on Aug. 8, 2006 at the home of Clara and Tom Roberts. She was 88.

A service was held Aug. 12, 2006, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Palmer, with Father Tom Brundage officiating.

A burial followed at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery. Pallbearers were Gary Roberts, Amanda Roberts, Sylvester Ayek, Matthew Mayac,

Ted Mayac Jr. and David Willequer.

She was born on March 10, 1918, in Nome. Her family listed her education as the &#8220school of hard knocks.” She lived in King Island and in Palmer and worked for Munz Airlines, as a housekeeper and seamstress and as &#8220a mother, grandmother and wife.”

She belonged to the St. Joseph Catholic Church, King Island Choir, the Nome Eskimo Community and the Bering Straits Native Corp. She was named the King Island Elder of the Year.

Catherine enjoyed skin sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking, singing, hunting, fishing and berry picking.

Her family wrote, &#8220Catherine raised her own family and took in many foster children over the years. She made mukluks and parkas for the Catholic priests, nuns and Jesuit volunteers. She took in those less fortunate and opened her home up to those in need. There was never a stranger to Aalie.

&#8220Catherine was the oldest and most knowledgeable elder of the King Island people. One o her last emphatic dying wishes was for the King Island people to be at peace with each other. She was a loving, kind-hearted and considerate person with a wonderful sense of humor. She loved telling stories of the old days and she will be missed and remain respected by all who knew her.”

Catherine is survived by sons, Gus and Dennis and Robert Kasgnoe; and daughters Rosemary Heintz, Agnes Miller and Clara Roberts. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Kasgnoe, and six children.

Donations can be made to Hospice of Mat-Su.

Arnold &#8220Arnie” Phillips

Longtime Ninilchik resident, Mr. Arnold &#8220Arnie” R. Phillips, 74, died Aug. 9, 2006, of a heart attack related to his long struggle with diabetes and multiple surgeries at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna.

A celebration of his life was held at noon on Aug. 13, 2006 at the Carrol Bock Hall in Ninilchik.

Arnie was born Sept. 8, 1931 in Eau Claire, Wis. He was a self-made entrepreneur who always wanted to make his million.

He, his dad and brother were trappers and hunters and owned a mink ranch and horses in his teens until the untimely death of his brother Jerry in 1952.

He married very young to Phyllis Nelson at age 16; and had four children by the time he was 21. He worked on the railroad in Wisconsin and owned Arn's Tavern in Eau Claire, Wis. Through his brother in law, he managed Fingerhut Manufacturing in Gaylord, Minn., and later headed up Research Control and Development at Fingerhut in St. Cloud, Minn.

Through all of these occupations he was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman and man's man.

In 1965 he moved his family again to Anchorage and hunted fur seal commercially on a large fur ship as the shooter. In the off season he sold cars at Alaska Sales and Service while researching gill netting and commercial fishing.

From 1966 through 1969, he returned to Eau Claire, Wis. where his first family was in high school and worked at Plombon Volkswagen as a salesman.

He returned to Alaska in 1969 with a Boston Whaler boat, hunting fur seal in Prince William Sound, and eventually bought his commercial fishing license for salmon and halibut.

Arnie fished out of Resurrection Bay from Seward and settled in Ninilchik where he commercial fished out of Cook Inlet. By this time he was divorced from his first wife and married Dixie Lee Osier, and had two children with her.

While living in Ninilchik he commercial fished, owned a water well drilling business and at the time of his death was owner and creator of Alaska's Own North Country Wine winery, the largest in Alaska.

The wines are produced from native plants, fruits and sap harvested from birch trees. Arnie had several deep freezes filled with wild game, fish, garden vegetables and mushrooms and prided himself on being a hunter/provider. He enjoyed his horses and hunted moose with them every fall. Arnie was stubborn, proud and equally as charming and disarming and will be missed by the many people he made an impact on during his rich life filled with challenge and adventure.

Arnie was preceded in death by parents John and Ella Phillips; brother, Jerry Phillips; and by second wife Dixine (Dixie) Lee Osier Phillips.

He is survived by six children, Steven John Phillips of Wasilla; David Michael Phillips of Eau Claire, Wis; Jeanne Beth Phillips of Meadow Lakes; Daniel Scott Phillips of Palmer; Ronda Arnette Phillips Blough, of Hoonah; and Randi Elene Phillips Presley of Soldotna. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and his first wife Phyllis La JoieI.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.

Richard O. Brendan

Richard O. Brenden, 74, died Aug. 12, 2006, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer of natural causes.

A memorial service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Glacier View Bible Church, Mile 99 Glenn Highway, in Sutton.

Marlin Beachy will officiate.

Mr. Brenden was born Aug. 13, 1931, in Bremerton, Wsh., and graduated from Bremerton High School and Seattle Pacific College. He also attended Vancouver Bible Institute and was a member of the Washington State National Guard from 1948-1950. He also served in the Air Force from 1950-54.

He came to Alaska in 1966, residing in Glacier View, and also lived in Kokhanok and McGrath.

He was a school teacher

in Kokhanok from 1966-69, in McGrath from 1969-78,

in Glacier View from 1978-88, and in China from 1989-90. He was a member of

the Glacier View Bible Church.

The family said: &#8220A devoted husband, father and teacher, Richard always respected and accepted others, especially the children that he taught

in and outside the school room.

&#8220Known for his sense of humor, he always welcomed people into his home. Although he never wanted positions of leadership, because of his strong Christian faith, which showed in every part of his life, many people followed his example. Church and community leaders welcomed his sound advice and trusted his judgment. He will be missed by all who met him.”

Mr. Brenden is survived by his wife of 53 years, Willena, son Rick, of Glacier View; daughter and son-in-law Debbie and Russel Sonberg of Kenai; granddaughter and grandson-in-law Becky and Rory Espy of Kenai; great-granddaughter Leah May Espy, of Kenai: adopted son and daughter Shawn and Carol Chen of Bothel, Wash., adopted grandson, Samuel Chen, of Bothel, Wash., and mother-in-law Veran Parkins of Palmer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Odwin and Mabel, and Brothers Ernie and Burton.

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory of Wasilla is handling arrangements.

Lila Mae Howze

Lila Mae Howze, 76, died on Aug. 11, 2006, at Angel's Touch in Wasilla due to natural causes. No services will be held at her request. A celebration of life will be held on or near her birthday, Oct. 28, 2006.

Ms. Howze was born Oct. 28, 1929, in Fort Meade, Fla. She completed the 10th grade and then got married.

Ms. Howze moved to Alaska on Aug. 6, 1990, living in Fairbanks and Wasilla. She was a stay-at-home mom. Some of her hobbies included cooking, fishing, camping, gardening and being with family.

Her family stated, &#8220She was a culinary wonder with special recipes and made a mean dish of Deep Wine Chicken. She also believed she was the one who actually came up with the recipe of ranch-style dressing before it came out to the public.

&#8220She broke records with catching largemouth bass in Florida and was always happy in the outdoors. Her love of family and friends was as strong as her will to live life to the fullest. She will be deeply missed through three generations of family and friends.”

Ms. Howze is survived by her sons, Dean Hayes, of Palmer, and Barry Rodriguez, of Wasilla; daughter Laura Carter, of Wasilla; niece Denise Large; granddaughters Shanaan and Erin Carter and Heather Cuffel; grandson Ryan Carter; great-grandsons, Gage Hancock, Austin Hardy, and Zackary Cuffel; and great-granddaughters, Shelby Ann Hardy, Lauren Cuffel and Katlyn Cuffel.

Ms. Howze was preceded in death by her brothers, Edwin S. Howze and Zeb Howze, and sister Evelyn Howze.

Her ashes will be scattered in Whittier.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.