Howard Clark Luther, Jr.

, passed away on Dec. 18, 2016, at his Campbell Creek House residence after a short illness.

Services will be held at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3 at Kehl’s-Legacy Funeral Home at 11621 Old Seward Hwy with viewing to start at 11 a.m. Celebration of Life and graveside services will be held next spring with graveside services to take place at Angelus Memorial Park.

Born April 26, 1929 in Oelwein, Iowa to Mr. Howard C. Luther, Sr. and Betty M. Luther, Howard came to his permanent home in Alaska with his family in 1944.

Howard worked for the Alaska Railroad, Alaska Sales and Service and as a realtor at his father’s real-estate office, Pioneer Realty, in his younger life. He then joined the Territorial Police force in 1959 and became a State Trooper through the transition of Statehood. He became a Corporal in October of 1968, a Sergeant in March of 1974, a 1st Sergeant in May of 1976 and in May of 1978 Howard became a Lieutenant and headed up a team within the Troopers to build and run Alaska’s first State Crime Lab, he retired from the Troopers on April 30th 1980 with the rank of Lieutenant.

He was also an entrepreneur who embarked on many businesses. He owned and operated a small restaurant with his wife Joyce, Pioneer Sand and Gravel, Rainbow Acres Laundry and RV Park as well as business real-estate buildings that he leased.

He enjoyed flying and received his pilot’s license prior to being old enough to acquire his driver’s license and flew several missions for both the Civil Air Patrol and the Alaska State Troopers. He was a member of the Free Mason’s and was a charitable and community-minded individual. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating, motorcycling as a member of the Blue Knights of Alaska and spending time with family and friends.

His family said “Howard was a wonderful person and a great Dad and Grandfather; he was very family oriented and took great pride in providing for his family in the Alaska subsistence life style supplying moose, salmon, crab, halibut and all of the other Alaskan bounty available during the span of his life. He especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren as well as volunteering at the State Trooper Museum in downtown Anchorage reliving stories of his past with all of the tourists and visitors who visited the Museum.”

Howard was preceded in death by his wives Joyce, Jan and Deena, his parents Howard C. Luther, Sr. and Betty M. Luther as well as his sons Ted and Greg Luther, and grandchildren Jamie Luther, Kate Lynn Luther and Kannon Saling.

He is survived by his children: Fredrick Luther of New York; Stephen Luther of Wasilla; Cheryl Howdyshell, James Luther and Kathryn Sathers of Anchorage; Robert Luther of California; grandchildren Darcy Burner of Washington; Toby, Todd and Travis Luther of Oregon, Nicole Sheldon of Eagle River; Christina Saling, Christopher Luther, Kaylee Sathers and Brent Howdyshell of Anchorage; Shawn David, Cory Sathers and Daniel Luther of Wasilla; Logan Ann Vanderpool of Pennsylvania; Mathew and Megan Luther of New York and great grandchildren Henry Burner of Washington; Alexandria, Jacob, Josh, Kayla, Kaden and Samantha Luther of Oregon, Camden and Kiara Saling of Anchorage; Cotter Sheldon of Eagle River, Kamaliah and Lucian Sathers of Wasilla; and Jordan Vanderpool of Pennsylvania.

Always in our hearts and minds, an amazing and loving man, a page turned, a life well lived, a rest well earned. God bless you always.