Erika Suzette (Hastie) Forton

Wasilla resident Erika Suzette (Hastie) Forton, 59, died at home Dec. 12, 2012, with her loving husband at her side.

A graveside service in her honor is at 1 p.m., Dec. 19 at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. (If attending, meet at 12:45 p.m. at the gate off of Arctic Valley.)

A celebration of life in memory of Erika is 2 p.m., Dec. 29 at American Legion Post No. 35, 5050 Tweed Court, Wasilla.

Erika was born June 26, 1953, in Missoula, Mont., to John L. Hastie and Erika Katzensteiner.

She served her country in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years as a military police officer, investigator and drill sergeant.

Preceding her in death were her parents.

Surviving are her husband, John “Bear” Forton of Wasilla; brother, John Hastie of Bethel; brother, Richard Hastie of Anchorage; sister, Emma Dye of Portland, Ore.; and sister, Uschi Hastie of Seattle, Wash.

Arrangements were by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory. An obituary and guestbook are online at alaskanfuneral.com.