Dec. 1, 2006

Shirley Ann

Motter

Former Alaska resident Shirley Ann Motter, 64, died Oct. 7, 2006, at Linrock Health & Rehabilitation Center in Texarkana, Ark.

Services were Oct. 10, 2006, at Chandler Funeral Home in DeQueen, Ark., and graveside services were at Pauley Cemetery at Wintrop, Ark.

She was born Jan. 12, 1941, to Raymond and Pauline (Hartman) Dunlap in Wintrop. She spent many years in Alaska from 1976 to 2005 as a homemaker, and was known as an excellent cook. She enjoyed arts and crafts, fishing and snowmachining.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry Motter of Palmer; son, Roy Arnold of Big Lake; daughters, Leigh Ann Kerby of Wasilla and Ruther Henson of Hooks, Texas; nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, mother and her second husband, Alvin Henson.

She is greatly missed.

Ann Louise Moffitt (Stow)

Palmer resident Ann Louise Moffitt (Stow), 72, died Nov. 18, 2006, at Gloria's Golden Heart Assisted Living in Anchorage, of natural causes. A celebration of life will at Palmer Moose Lodge, 1136 Cobb St., Palmer, on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006.

She was born Oct. 17, 1934, in Mandan, N.D. She and her family arrived in Seward on Jan. 3, 1937, on their way to the Matanuska Valley to start a new life in the Last Frontier.

The Moffitt family were dairy farmers, and she learned to care for livestock, and to cook with love. She was the youngest of nine. She attended Colony School in Palmer, where she learned to love theater, piano, singing and dance. She truly loved growing up in the colonist life style and had many good stories.

After leaving the farm, her career was banking from 1950 to 1964 at the Matanuska Valley Bank, National Bank of Alaska, Alaska State Bank and First National Bank. She also worked for Wright Auto Carriers Office as a manager from 1964 to 1970, and her own company, A.L.S. Payroll and Accounting, from 1970 to 1990.

She traveled outside Alaska to visit with family, and returned in 1991 and went to computer accounting school until 1992. In 1993, she worked for Arctic Auto & Truck in Anchorage until her retirement in 2005.

She is survived by her sister, Betty Stewart; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas Journa (Joiner) and Terri Lynn Journa; son, Fred Joiner; grandchildren, Debra Baker, Amanda Joiner, Susan Timm and William Timm; great-grandchildren, Jamie Pinder, Tiffany McCrae, Jordan Glasgow and Brandon McComas; and great-great-grandchild, Elijah Joiner (McAdoo).

She was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Alice, Chemma, Ruth, Thomas, Owen, Wallace and Leonard.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Moose Heart Children Charities c/o Moose Charities, 155 S. International Drive, Moose Heart, IL 60539-1100.

Arrangements were provided by Kehl's Forest Lawn Mortuary & Crematory.

David Francis Kenison

Wasilla resident, David Francis Kenison, 61, died of lung cancer Nov. 27, 2006, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

He was born Dec. 27, 1944, in Forest Grove, Ore. He attended Benson Tech High School in Portland, Ore., and later enlisted in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service, serving on the USS Scamp and the USS Sun Fish. He moved to Alaska in 1987, and worked at the Hartford Steam Boiler Company and later served as chief boiler inspector for the state of Alaska. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Maryann Kenison of Wasilla; sons, David Kenison, Richard Osmond, George Couch and Steve Myers of Wasilla; daughters, Donna Myers, Denette Kenison, Jennifer Osmond, Marie Kenison and Carmen Osmond of Wasilla; grandsons, Scott and Todd Taylor, Joey and Vincent Couch, Ben and Brennan Osmond, and Sterling Myers of Wasilla; granddaughter, Amy Lynn of California; brother, Orville Kenison of Portland; and sisters, Vicki Belles and Mary Flynn of Portland.

Services will be Dec. 1, 2006, at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel beginning at 2 p.m. with Allen Plorin officiating.

Arrangements were made by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel & Crematory, 1015 S. Check St., Wasilla.

Drury ‘Dean' Long

Drury &#8220Dean” Long of Palmer died Nov. 21, 2006, at his winter residence in Thousand Palms, Calif.

He was born May 8, 1928, to Lucinda and Floyd Long in Hindsboro, Ill., and was reared in Illinois. He is survived by his wife Jean Long; son, Gary; grandson, Christopher; granddaughter, Donna Jean Kramer; great-grandson, Ethan Kramer; and sisters and brothers, Dorothy Koelsch, Garnet Kincaid, Paul Long and John Long.

An educator who taught in Missouri, California and Alaska, he was respected by his students and fellow teachers. He retired from teaching in Palmer after several years of teaching English and drama, and helping to produce numerous plays and musicals at the high school and in community theater. Dean touched the lives of many, many students and community members who participated as actors or in other capacities in the myriad dramatic productions that he directed and produced.

Subsequent to his retirement, he traveled extensively with his wife, Jean, and became an avid writer, joining writing groups and publishing several works. He continued to write until his final illness, and leaves a novel ready for editing and submission.

He also was an avid golfer who traveled to play the finest courses in America and abroad, and as a lover of flying, he flew his plane in Alaska, Canada and the Lower 48.

He will be forever missed by his family, friends and former students who valued his company and counsel.

A celebration of his life will be in Palmer in the spring, when he normally would have returned. A notice will be published for friends in the community who would like to share memories.

Memorial services were Nov. 25, 2006, at Rose Mortuary in Desert Hot Springs, Calif.No

Eleanor Hosea

Seward resident Eleanor Hosea, 101, died Nov. 11, 2006, at Providence Wesley Care Center in Seward of natural causes.

A memorial service will be Friday, Dec. 1, 2006 at 1 p.m. at the Witzleben Bragaw Chapel, 1707 S. Bragaw, Anchorage.

Eleanor was born Sept. 2, 1905, in Cincinnati. She became an Alaska resident sometime in the 90s. She lived in Santa Barbara and New York before coming to Alaska, and in Alaska she lived in Ketchikan, Haines, and Juneau before settling in Seward. Her employment was unknown.

Eleanor read her Bible daily, loved movies, and read her horoscope daily. She enjoyed reading and listening to classical music.

Eleanor was a delightful, kind, and genuine person whose smile could light up the room, her family wrote. She welcomed everyone without prejudice, and helped those she could.

She would always ask, &#8220What is your sign” and loved to read her daily horoscope.

She will be missed by all who knew her.

Eleanor had many friends at Providence Wesley Care Center who loved and cared for her. The Athertens from Clearview Haven were her previous caregivers, and Kathleen Boulette and Mary Jacks were her friends, among others.

Interment will be in Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Witzleben Family Funeral Home.

Herbert H. Belanger

Lifelong Valley resident, Herbert H. Belanger, 76, died suddenly from a heart aneurysm on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. A memorial service will be Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006, at 3 p.m. at the Palmer Elks Lodge on Finger Lake. A potluck will follow the service.

Born April 26, 1930, in Chickaloon to Olga and George Belanger, He resided in the Palmer and Wasilla area his entire life. In 1948, he began his career as a heavy equipment operator. After working briefly for the Alaska Railroad and Northwest Airlines, he joined the Alaska International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 and helped build many of the major roads and airports across the state. He also worked for about six winters at the Jonesville Coal Mine in Sutton until the mine shut down. During his early years as a cat skinner, he had an uncanny ability to work under some of the most challenging circumstances, and enjoyed pioneer work on road projects including the Sterling, Glenn and Parks Highways. Later in his career he earned a reputation as a top-notch finish blade operator working for M. B. Contracting for 15 years and for Green Construction. In 1975, he began work as a general foreman for Northwestern Construction, overseeing projects in the Fairbanks and Southcentral areas, including the north-south runway at Anchorage International Airport in 1978.

He also worked for the state of Alaska from 1980 until 1990 at the Anchorage International Airport during the winter season in the field maintenance department, doing snow removal.

The final six years of his career were some of his most rewarding, his family wrote. In 1988, he was hired to oversee the development of the new apprenticeship and training facility for the operating engineers in Palmer, from the initial groundbreaking to its completion. He served as the director of training until his retirement in November 1994. During his tenure as director of training at the school, he was appointed by Gov. Walter Hickel to serve on the Governor's Council for Vocational Education.

His family said, &#8220He was a natural teacher with a very calm demeanor and unlimited patience, turning out some of the finest heavy equipment operators working today. It gave him great pleasure to drive by a construction project and see his former students on equipment.”

He had many passions in life and his greatest was his love and involvement with his family. He also loved flying his Cessna 182 with family and friends and anyone who wanted to fly just so he could show off Alaska's spectacular beauty from the air, his family wrote. He was an avid fisherman and whether it was at a secret fishing spot he found while flying in his floatplane or drilling a hole through the ice, he loved the feel of a &#8220fish on” and saying &#8220Whoopee! I got one!” He also enjoyed spending time with his wife, Bette, in their Maui condo, hiking in Hatcher Pass with their dogs, Mickey and Sparky, and driving up the Glenn Highway in the spring to view the annual hawk migration.

Preceding him in death was his mother, Olga Nickoli; father, George Belanger; sisters, Mae Crossman and Elsie Story; and his first wife, Harriette Belanger.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Bette Belanger; daughters, Kathy Hill of Hilo, Hawaii, Sherry Cruse of Seward, and Krista Thompson of Louisville, Ken.; sons, David Belanger of Seattle, and Bruce and wife Kristy Bromberek; grandchildren, Keana Cruse, Tyler Washburn, Haley Thompson and Dominic Bromberek; brothers, Dan and wife Jackie Corey, Jack Corey and Frank Corey; sisters, Edith and husband Bob Baller, Dorothy Topolic and husband Joe Windmiller, and Kathy and husband Kurt Anderson; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 for 57 years and the Masonic Lodge in Palmer, a life member of the Palmer Elks Lodge, and an elder and member of the Nay'dini'aa Na Chickaloon Village Traditional Tribal Council.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chickaloon Village Ya Ne Dah Ah School, PO Box 1105 Chickaloon AK 99674, or Nugens Ranch, P.O. Box 871545, Wasilla AK 99687.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Helen Frances Cain Wade Deland Scott Palmer

Helen Frances Cain Wade Deland Scott Palmer, 100, died Nov. 24, 2006, in Palmer at the Pioneer's Home. A service will be Dec. 3, 2006, at 4 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Palmer.

She was born Jan. 23, 1906, in O'Neil, Neb. In 1935, she moved to Palmer and was one of the original colonists in the Valley.

She was a homemaker and a gardener. She was affiliated with the Pioneers of Alaska. Some hobbies she enjoyed included traveling with her husband, Isaac, gardening, riding horses and visiting with family and friends.

Her family stated, &#8220Helen was a loving mother and grandmother. She was a true pioneer. She loved Alaska and said it was the best move she ever made. She dealt with all the hardships the colonists had, plus raising her children mostly by herself. She will be dearly missed by all.”

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Don and Pat DeLand of Palmer; son and daughter-in-law, Ted and Gloria DeLand of Sun City West, Ariz.; daughter, Evon Wilson of Lakewood, Col.; daughter and son-in-law, Lee and Gen Hanson of Starbuck, Minn.; granddaughters, Diana Kasper of Palmer, Norma Brown of Palmer, Pam Folkestad of Surprise, Ariz., Penny Hanson of Glendale, Ariz., Jaye Northey of Nilichick, Edith Staley of Soldotna, Paula Blanke of Willcox, Ariz., Terri Barrett of Peoria, Ariz., Donna Christianson of Frank Town, Col., Jeannie Glatiotis of Gunnison, Col., Veleta Chacon of Bartlesville, Okla., Susie Stricklin of Starbuck, Lori Hanson Scanlan of Wabasha, Minn., and Leanne Hanson of Starbuck; grandsons, Ben Deland of Vancouver, Wash., and Randy Scanlan of Minot, N.D.; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and adopted parents; husbands, Nile DeLand, Zoell Scott and Isaac Palmer; and daughter, Leola Rush.

Memorial donations can be made to Valley Hospice. Her ashes will be buried at the Palmer Cemetery this spring.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Palmer.