Diana E. Long

Diana E. Long

Diana E Long was born on July 17, 1952, in the old Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, to Merritt and Phyllis Erickson Long. She passed away peacefully, June 18, 2022, in Palmer, Alaska, surrounded by family and friends, with messages of hope and love coming in from around the country. A Celebration of Life in her honor will be held at the Palmer Senior Center on July 7 from 5-7pm.

Diana was raised in Palmer and was a 1970 Palmer High School graduate. In her high school years, she worked at the UAF Experiment Station; the Tastee Freeze at Four Corners; and the Internal Revenue Service. She took several years of college classes, but didn’t pursue a degree because, “I simply didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up.”

Work experiences include secretary for Manager Curly Sutton at the Alaska State Fair; Anchorage Credit Bureau; Palmer Pioneer Home; and the Palmer Police Department as dispatcher.

Many will remember Diana as the person who gave them their driver’s license during her employment at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Palmer. She was recognized and approached often with DMV queries, even when she was travelling out of state.

Diana was the first woman member of the Palmer Fire Department, having joined in August 1972, under Fire Chief Dan Contini and served on the ambulance crew. She was elected to the Palmer City Council and was President of the Palmer Pioneer Cemetery Association. She also served on the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union credit and advisory boards.

Paul W Koenig and Diana were married in 1992, in Glennallen, Alaska.

Diana’s indomitable spirit helped her weather 2 bouts of cancer as well as other health difficulties; visits to the dentist; her fear of flying, and many other unexpected life experiences. She was an avid quilter and shared her talents with friends and family in the form of quilts and lessons.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Paul, and her fiancée, Larry Tipton.

Surviving are her siblings Laurie (Larry) Thomas, Grace, Idaho; Jo (Mike) Weller and Grace Long (Mike Corbin) of Palmer; Kirke (Sonya) Long, Portland, Oregon; her stepchildren, Richard Koenig, Washington; Stephanie Chapman and Brian Koenig, of California, and Misty Reinhardt, of Montana. She is also survived by her stepdaughter, Bea (Ted) Justen, Palmer, and sister-in-law, Pauline (Clyde) Clay of DeWitt, Virginia. Many nieces, nephews and cousins also mourn her passing.

In her memory, donations may be made to Life Alaska Donor Services or the Blood Bank of Alaska.

Burial will be at the Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.