Laura Ellen “Awk” Rush

Laura Ellen “Awk” Rush, 74, of Wasilla, died Aug. 26, 2011, at her residence.

A memorial service is at 11 a.m., Sept. 17, at Alaska Native Lutheran Church, 1420 Cordova St., Anchorage, with the Rev. Mark Allred officiating. An additional memorial is planned in Teller at a later date. Laura’s cremated remains will be scattered in her birthplace of Igloo.

Laura was born Jan. 8, 1937, in Igloo. In the 1960s, Laura worked as a Head Start teacher in Teller, then in the ’70s she worked part-time with the Internal Revenue Service. Laura lived in Anchorage, Montana Creek and in Wasilla from 1992 until her death.

Laura was a member of the Alaska Native Lutheran Church and received numerous awards for skin sewing and beading. In 2010, she was named Bering Strait Native Corporation Elder of the Year.

Her family states: “Awk, as she was lovingly called by her siblings and family, was the most gentle, humble, kind person to all and loved everyone she knew. Although she struggled with health issues most of her life, that did not stop her from living life to its fullest. Her faith in the Lord was strong and provided comfort to all to the end of her life.”

Laura was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Rush; father, Peter Octuck; mother and step-father, Josie and Steven Okbaok Sr.; sisters, Blanche Okbaok and Marion Alexander; brothers, Jacob, Samuel, Roger, Harris Sr. and Steven Jr. Okbaok, and Henry Octuck; and stepdaughter, Shurina Wilkins.

She is survived by her daughter, April (Krik) Brogdon of Chugiak; granddaughters, Hazel Brogdon and Faye Bogdon; son, Gary Basiger of California; sister, Anna Sharon (Scott) Jacobson; brothers, Thomas Octuck Sr. of Tacoma, Wash., Delbert Okbaok of Teller and Elmer Okbaok of Anchorage; nephews, Kurt Steven Okbaok of Palmer and Joel Thomas Buswell of Wasilla; step-daughters, Jager, Jackie, Roxanne and Chris, and Rush, Judy, Francis and Patty; dear friend, Shirley Jirik; and numerous other nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to Lutheran Social Services of Alaska, 1305 W. 33rd Ave., Anchorage.

Arrangements were entrusted to Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel.