Leonard E. “Doc” Betts

Leonard E. “Doc” Betts, 62, of Wasilla, passed away on March 21, 2013 after a battle with cancer. Len had been a resident of Alaska since 1985.

A celebration of life will be held later this summer with Pastor Duanne Guisinger of the Sunny Knik Chapel presiding.

Len was born July 31, 1950, in Carbondale, Ill. He completed high school there. Len joined the Air Force in 1968 in Carbondale. He also attended SIU for a short time and went to the UAA Nursing Program for three years.

Len married his best friend Christine in July 1978 at Newmarket, Suffolk, UK. Len served two tours of duty in Vietnam earning the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and the Meritorious Service Medal among many others. He served 22 years 5 months with the U.S. Air Force, retiring in August 1991. He travelled all over the world while serving his country and decided Alaska was the place to settle.

After retirement, he continued working, driving school buses for Laidlaw and First Student in the winter and fighting wildland fires in the summer for the Division of Forestry, Palmer. He loved being on the fire lines for the adrenaline and the camaraderie. For a while he was a volunteer structural firefighter at Station 5-2 on Bogard Road. He served as a Mat-Su Borough Local Emergency Planning Committee Board member. Len also enjoyed time as a ham radio operator, having the call sign KL7LB, he loved guns, reloading and was an avid winter camper. He founded the Mat-Su Second Amendment Task Force about three years ago, which continues to grow.

Len passed away at home with his wife Christine at his side. She was also joined by friends, all former military members who carried him from his bedroom to the funeral car and giving him a final salute of respect.

Many thanks to the friends who helped out in so many ways during his 15-month fight with cancer. We would not have made it without all of you. Len was a beloved husband, father, brother and friend to many and will be greatly missed. Appreciation goes out to the staff of Mat-Su Regional Hospice, who made his last days more bearable.

Len was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas L. and Ruby C. Betts; and a nephew, Frank Cook Jr.

He is survived by his spouse, Christine D. Betts of Wasilla; daughter, Gillian C. DiRe (Dave) of Sacramento, Calif.; son, Christian A. Betts (Alicia) of Carmichael, Calif.; grandsons, Gabriel, Alecsander and Aidan Betts, all of Carmichael, Calif.; sister, Penny Cook (Frank) McDaniels of Kentucky; and brother-in-law, Keith Major (Hazel) Mayland of Essex, UK.

If desired, donations can be made in Len’s honor to: Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org or by phone at (877) 958-2233.