March 9, 2007

Michael Roger Marchant

Michael Roger Marchant, 54, was born April 6, 1952, to Patricia and Roger Marchant of Lovell, Wyo., and died at home in Wasilla on March 3, 2007.

He worked on the family ranch until getting married, and then worked on the Paddle Lock Ranch. He later joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany in the artillery unit. He and his family moved to Alaska in 1976, until a family matter brought them back to Lovell.

From there, he went to work for Colloid, and finally moved back to Alaska in 1985, where the family made their lasting home. He loved breaking horses, wrangling wild mustangs on the Pryor Mountains, hunting, fishing, cooking, camping, and spending

time with his family and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia; brothers, Kevin and Nick; grandfather, Austin; grandson, Phillip; nephew, Justin; great-nephew, Dalton; and great-niece, Clarissa.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela; daughters, Tonya (Joe) of Wasilla, and Pattie (George) of Old Harbor; grandchildren, Alena, Michael, Ashlei, Fawn, Garrett and Tracy; brothers, Patrick (Connie), Kirk and Cash; his father, Roger; Grandma Lou of Lovell; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

A private remembrance is planned for March 10, 2007, at the home of his daughter, Tonya Carroll.

Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel.

Libby Ann Reining

Meadow Lakes resident Libby Ann Reining, 52, died March 3, 2007, at home, following an extended illness.

No services will be held.

She was born June 18, 1954, in Guam. She became an Alaska resident in 1980.

Family and friends wrote, &#8220Libby Ann was a dear friend to many people. She was full of kindness, generosity, and always had a shoulder to cry on. Unconditional love is the best way to describe Libby. Her acceptance of all, with no judgment, is a lesson to all of us. Born in Guam to Rayford and Gradine Butler, Libby traveled the world as a Navy brat. Libby had a nursing career in Florida when she met Nick, the love of her life. Together, they traveled to Alaska and made their home here for 26 years. Nick describes her as beautiful inside and out. An avid outdoorswoman, Libby love four-wheeling, horseback riding, camping, fishing and hunting. The last years of her life were filled with suffering. She was trapped in a body that wouldn't work, and was unable to do all of the things that she loved. Even through her pain, she found beauty in her surroundings and found joy in life. Like a bird in a cage, we delighted in her beauty and her song. The hardest, and yet most beautiful, act was to set her free. So while her family and friends are happy at her release from pain, we will grieve the loss of her in our lives.”

Survivors are her husband, Nick Reining; daughter, Lori Stewart; son, Ryan Reining; sisters of choice, Sheri Lamkin and Rhonda Joines; granddaughter, Madison Ann; grandson, Blake Nicholas; and sister-in-law, Rhonda Reining.

Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel.

Ellen ‘Arlene' Clements

Longtime Alaskan Ellen &#8220Arlene” Clements died Saturday, March 3, 2007, at the Palmer Pioneers home after a long battle with cancer.

She was born in Centralia, Wash., in 1933 and moved to Alaska in 1937 with her mother, Florence; sister, Jackie; and great-aunt Alma. She attended Anchorage High School and Reed College.

After college, she returned to Palmer where she made her home for the last 50 years.

She was known in the Valley for her beautiful Flowers and her love of catching silver salmon.

She is survived by her longtime best friend, Dan Fleming; her children, David and Barbara Dowling, Brook Clements, Mike Clements, and Wes and Leithi Clements; grandchildren, Ciera, Aubrey, Sterling, Kendon, Cole, Connor and Ryan; sister, Jackie Solomon; and great-uncle Dean Decker

A celebration of life is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 17, 2007, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Palmer.

Her ashes will be spread across the Eklutna Tailrace.

Richard Reed Rodekohr

Palmer resident Richard Reed Rodekohr, 79, died of natural causes March 1, 2007, at Caring Hand in Hand assisted living home in Eagle River.

A viewing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 10, 2007, at Family Christian Center, 203 W. Dogwood Ave. in Palmer.

The service will follow at 3 p.m. A potluck gathering will follow the service at the church.

His ashes will be scattered at his cabin on Crosswind Lake.

He was the first son born to Carl William and Lola Margaret (Tiedgen) Rodekohr

on Jan. 5, 1928, in Battle

Creek, Neb.

He graduated from Norfolk High School in Nebraska in 1945. He started junior college and was drafted into the U.S. Army. During basic training, his expert marksmanship qualified him for 12 weeks advanced combat training. He was sent overseas to France and then to Germany.

He was discharged in 1948 and shortly after enlisted with the U.S. Air Force. When the Korean War started, he was sent to Japan and then to Korea. He served in Okinawa and then went back to Germany. He had several stateside assignments ending in Anchorage.

He retired from military service on March 31, 1966.

He lived in Anchorage for 25 years, moving to Alaska around the time of the 1964 earthquake. He then moved to the Mat-Su Valley in 1989, where he lived until his death.

He married Margery Jean White in 1953 and they had four children. The couple divorced in 1977.

He married Vera Roberts Hightower in 1978.

He worked as a purchasing agent at the U.S. Public Health Service, retiring in 1980. He was an avid sportsman and commercial fisherman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Lola Rodekohr; his wife, Vera Rodekohr; and brother-in-law, Lew Wheeler.

He is survived by his four children, Michael, James, David and Lizann Rodekohr Roa, all of Alaska; siblings Keith and Carl Rodekohr and Jean Wheeler, all of Cheyenne, Wyo.; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, Ken, William, James Hightower and Mari Eaton, all of Alaska; five other step-grandchildren; and four step-great-

grandchildren.

He also is survived by his former wife, Margery Jean Rodekohr of Anchorage.

Local arrangements were provided by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.

John P. Wicht Jr.

John P. Wicht Jr., 74, died March 5, 2007, in Nevada. A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, 2007, at the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church of Palmer on 49th State Street and Terry Street. Fred Blomquist and Andy Hendrickson will officiate at the service.

The pallbearers will be John Wicht IIII, Ben Uskoski, Kyle Uskoski, John Uskoski, Jared Foley and Tyler Foley.

He was born Jan. 6, 1933, in Manhattan, N.Y. In September 2004, he moved to Palmer from the East Coast, where he had lived for 71 years.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.