August 18, 2006

WILLIAM A. SPAIN

Former Alaskan William A. Spain, 40, passed away of a massive heart attack June 23, 2006, in Athens, Tenn., where he lived for the past 10 years.

Bill was born in Anchorage June 1, 1966, and was raised in the Wasilla and Palmer area, attending school in both towns.

Bill went to work for his grandfather's construction company, Carney Bro's, when he was only 17 years old, and was a good and reliable worker. Retaining the skills and knowledge he learned throughout his life, he received many praises from his employers. Bill took great pride in his work.

With each phone call or visit, he would thank his grandparents for giving him his start in the work force that afforded him a good living.

He was very caring and never afraid to say how much he loved them.

Even at a young age, he was a good &#8220brother” to his little sister, Bonnie, and was especially close to his sister, Lyndia. They were good buddies. He looked up to and respected his older brother, Jim, and cared and watched out for his younger brothers, Sam and Travis.

He was always close to his mother. He moved his family and settled in Tennessee after she made her home there.

He loved all of his children, and carried their pictures with him at all times, even hanging them up in his truck when working. They were always close to his heart with the photos being cremated with him, so they will continue to be with him forever.

Bill loved hard and lived hard. He danced to his own piper. As his brother Jim said, &#8220he did everything full throttle”.

When his grandmother thinks of Bill, she will always hear those words he would say to her, &#8220have I told you lately Grandma?” remembering how much he loved her and she him.

He is missed by his loving family and many friends.

Survivors include Chuck and Roxanna Giaugue of Spring City, Tenn.; daughters, Caitlyn Cheyenne Spain of Athens and Felicia Ann Spain of Alaska; sons, Derrick Lee and Wesley Allen Spain, both of Alaska; sisters, Lyndia S. Hohn of Alaska and Bonnie L. McConnell of Tennessee; brothers, James T. Spain Jr. of Alaska, and Samuel A. and Travis L. Spain, both of Michigan; grandparents, Ed and Carol Carney of Washington state; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews residing in Alaska and the Lower 48.

Bill was proceeded in death by his daughter, Colleen Patricia. He never fully recovered from her death.

Bill's sister Lynn wrote, &#8220My brother Bill was the best brother a girl could ever ask for, He was always there for me. He took me places that no one else would. We loved to go fishing together and I loved to ride on his mother bike with him. As we got older, we still loved to hang out until he got hurt and moved away. When Bill died it had been 15 years since we had seen each other. I wish I could have seen him one last time. I call his cell phone just to hear his voice, I miss him so much.

&#8220Bill loved his kids even though he never got to raise them. All he ever wanted was a family and wife that understood him. He was loved by everyone that knew him and was such a ladies man. Bill led a hard and fast life. He had worked hard since he was 15. He loved heavy equipment and big semi trucks. He loved to take things apart to see how they worked. My brother Bill will always be in my heart and thoughts, for he was my best friend. He was my protector from bad guys that were in our lives as kids growing up. He saved me more than once. I just wish that I could have saved him from his darkest hour.

&#8220I will always love you, my brother, Billy-Bones, my savior and best friend. I'm just sorry I couldn't have saved you. I know some day I will see you again, until then, please watch over me from heaven as you did here on earth. I will never forget you for all the days of my life.”

MARILYN RUTH RHOADES

Marilyn Ruth Rhoades, 72, died Aug. 8, 2006, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer. The funeral will be 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, at the Wasilla Assembly of God Church on Riley Street. Public viewing will be from 3-4 p.m. The Revs. Ed Kalnins and Paul Riley will officiate. Interment will follow at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery.

She was born Aug. 20, 1933, in Salem, Ore. She graduated from the University of Oregon with B.A. in education and a degree in teaching. She also attended Canyonville Bible School.

She lived in Oregon prior to moving to Alaska in 1967, where she lived in a logging camp in Southeast and taught as a school marm in a one-room school. She also served as a bookkeeper for Consteel for many years.

She was affiliated with Wasilla Assembly of God for 32 years. Some of her interests included playing many musical instruments, such as the violin, accordion, organ and piano. She loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Hawaii and across the United States, as well as Hong Kong. She enjoyed living in Yuma, Ariz., during the winter, and returned to Alaska to live with her family during spring and summer.

Her family stated, &#8220She was a loving wife and mother. She cared deeply for all her family, friends and church family. With her gift of hospitality, she opened her heart and home to many. She had a ministry of giving books, and wrote letters to people to encourage them in their faith. Her passion for Jesus was greater than any other desire. Her vision for her family was that each one knows Jesus in a close relationship. Everyone she spoke with always heard about the goodness of God. Mom has been a prayer warrior for our family and the church body, interceding for the needs of others.”

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Clyde Rhoades; five children, Rodney and Stina Rhoades, Karen and Walt Erickson, Darrell and Beth Karen Rhoades, Gail and Roger Toci, and Gary and Pam Rhoades; along with 18 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.

SHANE W. WOODS

Lifelong Palmer resident Spc. Shane W. Woods, 23, died Aug. 9, 2006, while deployed to Iraq. He gave his life while serving his country in the cause of freedom during combat operations near Ar Ramadi, Iraq. He was killed along with two other soldiers when an IED detonated directly underneath their HMMWV. He was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany.

He was born July 10, 1983, in Anchorage. He lived in Palmer all his life. He attended Palmer High School, and graduated in 2003. He was enrolled in the Colony High junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program, where he excelled. In 2002, he was the recipient of the Alaska National Guard Adjutant General's Award, and in 2003, he was selected as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Alaska JROTC Cadet of the Year.

He was involved with the family guiding business from the time he was a small boy, and grew up hunting and fishing in the Alaska wilds. He had a special love for climbing and hiking in the Taylor Mountains of Western Alaska, and the Chugach Mountains near his home.

His family writes, &#8220Shane knew from an early age that he was called to be a soldier, and he was so proud to serve his God and country as a tanker with the 1st Armored Division. His fellow soldiers knew him to be a real warrior, with strong belief in his mission to protect what we have at home. Shane loved his Alaska home. He was a talented poet and photographer, and had a strong faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are blessed to have had him in our lives. His outstanding character leaves a legacy of living friends, family, and fellow soldiers who shall never forget the passion and enthusiasm with which he lived. He is a true hero.”

Spc. Woods is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Mike Punch and Lura Punch.

He is survived by his parents, Wayne and Mae Woods; sister, Stephanie; grandparents, Noel and Jean Woods; uncles and aunts, Nathan and Sandra Woods and Wade and Lynn Miller; aunts, Barbara Nakajo and Betsy Punch; uncles and aunts, Buck and Suzanne Cramer and Ed and Leslie Stark; aunt, Eleanor Lee; and numerous cousins and friends.

A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18, 2006, at Palmer First Baptist, 1150 E. Helen Drive. Palmer.

Donations can be made to the Shane W. Woods memorial fund at Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, 1020 S. Bailey St. Palmer, AK 99645.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.

HELEN ASHLEY

Longtime Alaskan Helen Ashley died April 24, 2006, in Anchorage.

A celebration of life will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006, at the Lidia Selkregg Chalet at Russian Jack Park in Anchorage.

A full obituary was published April 30.

EUGENE ‘GENE' DAVID SELTENREICH

Eugene &#8220Gene” David Seltenreich, 75, passed away July 29, 2006, in Whitehorse, Canada. He was born in Mankato, Minn., on Dec. 24, 1931.

He was a longtime resident of Willow, a Korean War Veteran, a retired plasterer by trade, a hunter, and an avid fisherman, surpassed by his son, Rick.

He is survived by brothers, Leon of Willow and Don of Minnesota; son, Steven of California; daughters, Annie Marshing and Sue Stolp of Minnesota; eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews galore.

He leaves many friends with fond memories of fishing stories and hunting tales, and will be deeply missed.

Rest on Sleeping Lady our father, our brother, our uncle, our friend.

A celebration of his life was Aug. 16, 2006, at the Pioneer Lodge in Willow.