Austin E. Helmers

Longtime Alaska resident, Austin Helmers, 93, passed away March 5, 2010, at the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer surrounded by family.

A memorial service will be held March 13 at 1 p.m. at the Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory, 1015 S Check St., Wasilla. The Rev. Ann Whitney of St. David’s Episcopal Church will officiate. Following the memorial there will be a reception from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Pioneers Home, 250 E Fireweed Ave.

Austin was a research forester for the U.S. Forest Service, and a lifelong outdoorsman and public trails advocate for both Idaho and the Matanuska Valley.

Austin was born Aug. 30, 1916, in Doon, Iowa to Edd and Marie Shroeder Helmers. He was raised in Idaho and Montana, where he learned all the operations of logging and the forest from his father. He was an undefeated log roller who took on all challengers and an avid hiker who climbed to many a ridge top.

Austin and Geneva Maxine Wortman were married in 1940 while both were still in college. In the early 1940s, they moved between Missoula and the Forest Service Station at Deception Creek, near Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, and finally to the Experimental Forest Station near Priest River, Idaho. While at Priest River Experiment Station they became involved in square dancing, which would continue throughout their lives.

Austin was an alumnus of the University of Idaho at Moscow. He completed a masters degree in plant ecology and research. During his college years he worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps to fight the spread of White Pine Blister Rust. Part of his USFS research career included working with the Army Corps of Engineers, performing soil and snow trafficability tests of military vehicles. One of the highlights of working with the Corps was spending a summer on the Greenland Ice cap. He moved his family to Alaska in 1957 to do watershed research in the Tongass National Forest and the Juneau ice fields. In 1971, they moved to Fairbanks, where he continued his research on the boreal forest at the Institute of Northern Forestry located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.

In 1976, after his 40-year career with the Forest Service, Austin and Maxine retired to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. In 1978, they returned to Alaska and settled in the Matanuska Valley. Together they grew immaculate gardens with two-story pea vines and a huge raspberry patch surrounded by stunning flowers and well-tended trees. They continued their enjoyment of square dancing as members of Paws and Taws Square Dance Club in Palmer.

Austin’s second career was his passion for hiking and making sure public trail rights-of-way were not lost. He was instrumental in establishing the Pioneer Ridge Trail, the public route up Pioneer Peak which was dedicated to him in 2004. He also mapped and secured the Matanuska Peak Trail, the Morgan Horse Trail on Lazy Mountain and the Crevasse Moraine Trail system. The first Mat-Su public trails plan to serve many users was put together due to his field research. Austin observed that the greatest freedom was on public lands and rights-of-way, and his greatest concern was fencing and the loss of easements would be the ultimate lockout to the people. To him, access to the mountaintops was nearer to God and peace. He climbed frequently up to 90 years of age, often with a hatchet, a saw and batch of trail markers.

Austin was instrumental in forming the Mat-Su Trails Council. He was appointed to the Governor’s Trails and Recreational Access Board for Alaskans in 1996. He was presented numerous awards in recognition of his volunteer efforts on the local, state and national levels.

Austin was a wonderful role model and taught his family the importance of good work ethic, respect for nature and pride for country.

Austin was preceded in death by his wife, Geneva “Maxine,” in 2008, also a resident of the Palmer Pioneers Home; and two sisters, Lois Humphrey and Eulaine Naiden.

He is survived by his daughters, Nancy (David) Thomas of Palmer and Geri (John) Paden of Texas; son, Thomas (Teri) Helmers of Fairbanks; grandchildren, Scott and Steve Thomas, Kelli Toth, Jessica and Leslie Helmers, and Ashley Wages, all of Alaska, Kierstin “Kitzel” Waara of Michigan, Brandi Deems of California, Marilyn Smith of Utah; and 12 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mat-Su Trails Council, P.O. Box 2356, Palmer, AK 99645, or directly into the council’s account No. 88170 at any branch of the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union or the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 4406, Palmer, AK 99645.