Deborah Lynn Engle

Wasilla resident Deborah Lynn Engle, 56, died April 28, 2012.

A viewing is 2 to 4 p.m., May 7 at Peninsula Memorial Chapel, 5839 Kenai Spur Hwy., Kenai. Burial will follow at The Kenai City Cemetery.

Deborah was born Nov. 22, 1955, in Shardon, Mich. She graduated high school and attended a few years of college. Deborah moved to Alaska in 1980, living in Juneau, Kenai and most recently Wasilla. She was involved in The Salvation Army Church.

Preceding her in death were her parents, John Sanders and Carrol Sanders.

Surviving are her daughter, Lua Smith of Wasilla; sons, Loren Smith of Kenai and Lucas Smith of Wasilla; brothers, Rex Sanders of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Tim Sanders of Lancing, Mich.; stepmother, Carol Sanders of Anchorage; and granddaughters, Shila Smith of Anchorage and Kathlene Smith of Kenai.

Memorial donations may be made in memory of Deborah C/O Lucas Smith, P.O. Box 521036, Big Lake, AK 99652.

Arrangements made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel and Crematory.

Merian Elizabeth Jansson

Wasilla resident Merian Elizabeth Jansson, 56, died April 27, 2012, at St. Elias in Anchorage. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Merian was born July 9, 1955, in Napa, Idaho, and was lovingly raised by Maxine and Charles Jansson.

She graduated from Doniphan High School in Missouri in 1973, and then moved to Anchorage to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage. She later met and married Lloyd Hood on July 26, 1975. Upon her marriage to Lloyd, she became mother to Jeannine, and later in 1977 to Bree, and in 1978 to Zeleen.

Merian gave up her earlier dream of entering law enforcement and chose instead to become a wonderful wife and mother to her very grateful children. She later returned to her dream and began working for the Department of Corrections for the state of Alaska. Merian worked for the DOC for 15 years, earning the respect and admiration of many people and colleagues. She was known as a fair, tough and compassionate officer. She made corrections her life and dedicated herself to it completely, taking great