MARY WELCH

Alaska pioneer Mary Welch died in her Anchorage home on Aug. 31, 2005, after a brief and intense battle with pancreatic cancer. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Bogard Road in Wasilla.

There will be a celebration of her life after the service at her son Paul's home in Wasilla. The family will hold a private ceremony on the family's original farm near Mary Creek.

Mary was born on Dec. 26, 1933, in Fort Collins, Colo. She arrived in Fairbanks in 1947 and lived there until 1952. She married Dewey Welch in 1953 and they moved to Wasilla, where they homesteaded and farmed 525 acres on Welch Road.

Known for her sense of adventure and independent spirit, Mary loved to read, travel and spend time with her children and grandchildren. As recently as March 2005 she hiked the Grand Canyon.

Her family wrote: "Mary retained her dignity and sense of humor to the end and will be deeply missed by her family and friends."

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Welch, her son, John Arthur, her parents, John and Mary Hawes, and sister, Louella DeLeonardis.

She is survived by her seven children and 13 grandchildren: son, Paul Welch, daughter-in-law, Joani, their children, Arilin and Ashlen of Wasilla, son, Steve Welch, and his daughter, Anna of Wasilla, daughter Eva Sibbett and her son McKinley, daughter, Amy Welch of Seattle, daughter, Libby Christensen, son-in-law, Brad Christensen and their children, Melissa, Ryan and Kayla of Berea, Ky., son, Ben Welch and daughter-in-law Tally and their children Nick Hackney and Amanda and Bennett of LaGrande, Ore., daughter, Diane Ruse and son-in-law, Eric and their children, Issac and Abigail of Delta Junction, and her brother, Walter Hawes of Paso Robles, Calif.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Eva Foundation, 1120 East Huffman, #324, Anchorage, Alaska 99515. Arrangements are with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.