Bette Mae (Stratton) Sanders

Bette Mae (Stratton) Sanders, 93, passed away Jan 20, 2014, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

Bette was born Nov. 28, 1920, in Hollywood, Calif., to Emil and Doris Guggenheim. She graduated from Hollywood High School. She was secretary for her bowling league, was a member of the Eastern Star, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Demolay, Rainbow Girls and Amaranth. She was very active in earlier years and was continuing to do boat inspections for the Coast Guard Auxiliary with her husband, Russell Sanders, as recent as the summer of 2009.

Bette worked as a proofreader for Liton Industries for many years. She was a very talented crafter, making many wonderful gifts through the years for friends and family. Bette was living at Homestead Assisted Living in the Palmer area for the past year and was taken care of with love and respect. Her former neighbor and best friend, Connie Cannon, was a consistent loving friend and visitor to Bette, especially when Bette moved to Homestead.

Bette was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Surviving are her daughter, Linda Terry of Eagle River; grandchildren, Chad and Kimberly Williams of Alaska and Melissa Carpenter of Washington; five great-grandchildren; and mother-in-law, Carlene Sanders of Wasilla.

She was preceded in death by her parents and former husband(s) Leroy Matz, Harold Clark, Richard Stratton and Russell Sanders.

Services are at 2 p.m., Feb. 1 at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel in Wasilla.

Betty Ann Eiben

Betty Ann Eiben, 90, went to be with her Lord on Jan. 21, 2014, while residing at the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer.

Visitation is from 2 to 3 p.m., Feb. 3 at Witzleben Funeral Home, 1707 Bragaw, Anchorage. A memorial service follows at 3 p.m. Officiant will be Pastor John Wilson.

Betty was born Aug. 26, 1923, in Oklahoma. On March 28, 1945, she married the love of her life, Merle, while they were both serving in the military during World War II.

Betty was a Christian, occasionally attending Anchorage Baptist Temple and Farm Loop Christian in Palmer. She enjoyed homemaking, reading, crossword puzzles, sewing and writing birthday and Christmas cards to relatives and friends until she was no longer able.

The family states, “She was a devoted wife and mother with a loving and gentle disposition. We appreciate her friends at Chester Park Senior Housing and the staff at Palmer Veterans and Pioneer Home who supported her so tenderly when her health began to decline in recent months.”

Betty is survived by her sister, Shirley Smith; brother, Myrl Erb; and extended family in Oklahoma; children, Rick Eiben, Van Eiben and Carol Carman; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Alaska, California and Montana.