Margaret Bernice Lucas

Pioneer Alaskan and family anchor Margaret Lucas, 101, left us Feb. 3, 2016, to join her husband, family members and many dear friends who went before her. Her departure leaves us with sadness, but also with joy, as we celebrate a life lived long and well.

Margaret Bernice Fiesler was born Feb. 14, 1914, to Nellie Olivia and Harley Frederick Fiesler in Denver, Colorado. She grew up on the family ranch near Bailey, Colorado, surrounded by family, mountains and her beloved animals.

Her graduation picture, from 1933, was accompanied by the statement “She wants to work for her dad on his ranch, and excel as a cowgirl in every branch.” She was doing just that when a chance meeting with a young ranch hand at a local dance changed everything. On Aug. 1, 1934, she and Leo Lucas exchanged vows and began a lifelong adventure together.

The economic climate in Colorado, not being favorable to young, would-be ranchers, they considered their options, and Leo, on the advice of a friend in Alaska, took the steamship S.S. Alaska to Cordova in early 1938. Finding life there good, he sent a telegram to Margaret and their two young daughters, advising her that a ticket for the June 4, 1938, sailing of the S.S. Yukon would be waiting at the dock in Seattle. She packed a couple of trunks, gathered the children, and took a train to Seattle to begin the next chapter of their lives.

After arriving in Cordova, Margaret was not impressed with the soggy weather, washing and drying diapers by coal heat in a small house located on the dock, where the outhouse flushed twice a day – with the tide. After 10 months, she announced to Leo she’d had it with Cordova. Leo, recognizing defeat when he saw it, agreed to leave.

Hearing that crops grew well in Fairbanks and the gold mining industry provided plenty of work, they decided to head that way. Fortunately, heavy snow that spring in Broad Pass blocked the railroad, so they decided to look at the Matanuska Valley. They stayed overnight in one of John Bugge's cabins (now where the parking lot for the 1st National Bank in Palmer is), and the next morning, when they awoke, the sun was shining, Mr. Bugge’s chickens and a hog were scratching around outside, and Margaret turned to Leo and said “Now this is more like it!” They had found their new home.

Upon the advice of John Bugge, they approached Oliver Jones, who had homesteaded the 160 acres due south of Bugge’s in 1920, and was ready to sell. They were able to purchase the property in 1942 for the princely sum of $3,000, despite being told by the Anchorage bankers that that land would never be worth anything. In 1953, they moved into a new house they built on the property, and it was there they both lived for the rest of their days.

Margaret kept the farm running, building fences, caring for the horses, cows, chickens, pigs, goats, dogs and five children, while Leo started a land-clearing and road-building business, as well as a big game guiding service.

Margaret is survived by three children: sons, Larry and Dan; and daughter, Elaine; husband, Gene; sister, Frances; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo; daughters, Moyene and Leona; sister, Helen; son-in-law, John Brymer; daughter-in-law, Sharon Lucas; and grandson, Kenny Brymer.

A celebration of Margaret's life will be held at the Palmer Moose Lodge on Feb. 13, 2016, at 3 p.m., one day prior to her 102nd birthday, with a potluck to follow. Please come and share friendship, stories and food. Donations may be made to Mat-Su Hospice, an organization that was of great comfort to us all in Margaret's last days. Thank you.