Margie G. Carlson

Margie G. Carlson, 90, of Anchorage, died April 5, 2010, at Alaska Regional Hospital. She was born Aug. 22, 1919, in Sandpoint, Idaho, to Alice and Jack Goethel.

After her mother’s death when Margie was 9, Margie was raised by her step-mother.

After graduating from high school, she traveled to Alaska via steamship, arriving in Seward in 1940. She met Boyd “Bud” Carlson, formerly of Kelso, Wash., who had come to Alaska with his brother Bill.

After their marriage Dec. 23, 1942, Margie and Bud operated Bear Lake Sawmill. Margie then lived in Whittier when Bud was assigned there with the Army during World War II. After the war, Margie and Bud operated logging camps on Montague and Hinchinbrook islands.

In 1954, when daughter Judy was 6, the family moved to Seward, where they built Bay View Sawmill on Nash Road, and Margie was active in the Seward Lutheran Church and Business and Professional Women. The family moved to Anchorage in 1964 when the earthquake/tidal wave destroyed their home.

In 1974, Margie and Bud established a mobile home park near Glennallen during construction of the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline. They moved to the Matanuska Valley in 1983, building their retirement home on Visnaw Lake. After Bud’s death in 1999, Margie moved to Wasilla, remaining active in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church programs. In 2004, she moved to Chester Park to be closer to family.

Margie is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Judy (Bob) Gastrock of Anchorage; grandsons and granddaughters-in-law Jason (Michelle) Gastrock of Tucson, Ariz., Brian (Jennifer) Gastrock of Anchorage, and Darren (Kaitlin) Gastrock of Boston; four great-grandchildren, Cooper, Grace, Olivia and Miles Gastrock; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her younger sisters, Jackie Saffer and Lucille Sanders; and step-sister Alice.

The family wishes to thank Jeannine, her caregiver for more than four years, and the staff at Chester Park.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. April 17 at Chester Park, 2020 Muldoon Road.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Resource Agency, 1750 Abbott Road, Anchorage, AK 99507.

Arrangements by Kehl’s Legacy Funeral Home.