May 9, 2006

ALVIN EDWIN MILLER

Alvin &#8220Al” Miller passed away peacefully the evening of May 6, 2006, at the Homestead Assisted Living.

Alvin &#8220Al” Miller was born Alvin Edwin Mueller, on Aug. 20, 1920, the youngest of 10 children. As many of his siblings before him, he had his name changed to Miller. He was born to Christian and Ella (Grob) Mueller on Aug. 20, 1920 in Arena, Wis. Al joined the Army in 1942, and served in the military in South Pacific and Alaska. After his tour of duty he returned to Alaska in 1945, and went to work at Matanuska Maid in Palmer. In 1947 he moved to Anchorage and went to work at the Alaska Railroad, until rheumatoid arthritis required him to take a disability retirement. After several year's recuperation, he began driving school bus in 1968 as a Teamster, for the Alaska School District, until retiring in 1985.

Al married Borghild &#8220Bubbles” Olson in December 1961. They lived in Anchorage until 1986, when they moved to Palmer, after his retirement. He was known in the Valley by friends and family for his woodworking of Disney characters, his beautiful lawn and great garden. He provided many with vegetables.

He was preceded in death by his spouse, Borghild; daughter Ila; his parents, Christian and Ella; four sisters, Louisa, Ella, Elizabeth, Margaret; and four brothers, Christian, Fredrick, Jacob, Roy. He is survived by his sister, Olga; daughter and son-in-law, Mervin and Gladys Kirn; grandson Randy (Karen) Kirn; granddaughters Sandra (Ibrahim) Taha, Bonnie (Ryan) Maxwell, Laura (Kenny) Cox, and LeeAnn (Jarrod) Taylor; and 10 great grandchildren - Jordan, Delaney and Payton Kirn Yasen, Amer, Sharif and Mervin Taha, Tamra and Haley Cox, and Eve Taylor, along with many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Kehl's Palmer Mortuary, 209 S. Alaska Street, Palmer, on May 11, 2006, at 2 p.m..

Donations may be sent to Hospice of Mat-Su, 3051 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Wasilla, AK 99654.

DIANE LOUISE QUIGGLE

Diane Louise Quiggle, 58, died suddenly in her husband's arms on May 5, 2006 at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

Memorial services will be held May 12, 2006 at 6 p.m. at VFW Post 9365, 301 Lakeview Drive in Wasilla. The VFW Ladies Auxiliary will officiate the service.

Diane was born on July 3, 1947 in Hudson, S.D. She moved to Wasilla in 1983. She was a life member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 9365.

&#8220Diane moved to Alaska in 1983 from California, where she met her soul mate Clinton Quiggle. They were married in 1987 and lived in Wasilla together with their loving pets Little Bit and Bear. Diane was a Life Member and an Officer of the Wasilla VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post #9365, where she donated much of her precious time to many community fundraisers. She enjoyed many crafts such as knitting, sewing, and doll making. Diane enjoyed spending time with many of her close friends. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and have a good time. Diane loved the photos she kept of her friends and the good times they had and she cherished them to the end. Diane was a very giving, caring person. Diane had many people in her life, whom she had embraced as her own children. Diane will be greatly missed by many. Donations for funeral expenses can be made at the Wasilla VFW Post #9365, by calling 376-5820 or mailed to P.O. Box 872000 Wasilla, AK 99687.”

Diane is survived by her husband, Clint Quiggle of Wasilla, her pets; Little Bit and Bear, both of Wasilla, daughters, Tracy Blom and Tammy Heibult, both of S. D.; sisters, Dawn Cross of Shasta Lake, Calif., Dena Munoz of Sacramento, Calif., Dee Johnson of Brookings, Ore., and Debbie Johnson of Oregon; brothers Doug Johnson of California and Danny Johnson of Texas. Diane was preceded in death by her parents, Betty and Louis Johnson, and sister, Donna.

In lieu of flowers, donations for funeral expenses can be accepted at the Wasilla VFW Post #9365. Arrangements by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.

MARGARET JANE (JANIE) SUGDEN

Palmer resident Margaret Jane (Janie) Sugden died of natural causes on April 8, 2006 at home with her girls. There will be no services.

Janie came to love Alaska after several visits with family and friends; watching the eagles fish in the Knik River and just gazing at Pioneer Peak brought her peace and joy. For these reasons, and to be near her niece Jo Armor, Janie relocated and became a resident of Alaska in 2004.

Janie was born in Ardenwald, Ore., to Wylie and Mary Ann Hicks on March 18, 1928. She graduated from Girls Poly in Portland and married Russ Sugden in 1948.

Janie worked full time at a paying job, but her best job was caring for family and friends, which she learned to do by helping her mother. She was always entertaining the young ones of family and friends, taking them on picnics, teaching then to catch crawdads, how to blow bubbles, and how to play cards; she also took care of many of the elders of the clan in her home at times when they were no longer able to care of themselves. She played a mean game of pool, and could reach the entire table with both feel flat on the floor. She enjoyed sewing, especially quilts and in her prime frequently could be called upon to create stuffed animals as prizes at local children's events. Janie also sewed clothing for premature babies through Albertina Kerr Center in Portland.

She is survived by her daughter, Rusti Stewart/Linthorst of Troutdale, Ore.; grandson, Robert Stewart of Tigard, Ore.; VL (Jo) Armor of Palmer, whom she helped raise; sister of her heart Bernice Green; sister-in-law, Bernice Hicks and Lillian Fraiser; many nieces, nephews and many special friends.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.

Beverly Jane Dagley Wallner

Pioneer Alaskan Beverly Dagley Wallner passed away at the home of her youngest daughter May 6, 2006, with her family gathered near her.

Beverly was born Feb. 18, 1928 in Harrisburg, Pa., and migrated to California in 1942. There she met Tom Dagley, her first husband and father to their four children. They moved north in 1955 and started a unique Alaska life. Beverly and her family raced sled dogs, homesteaded and lived a subsistence lifestyle. The family also worked a goldmine north of Fairbanks. Beverly did not know how to cook when she arrived in Alaska but she soon became expert in putting in a large, productive garden.

She loved to fish in streams or lakes and became adept at cooking over a campfire. She raised her children to be self-sufficient and love the Lord. Beverly remained active in her faith throughout the years.

When Tom Dagley passed away, she went to live with her eldest daughter's family and helped raise her grandsons. She worked in the radiology department of Providence Hospital and retired after 18 years. She then moved out to the Valley to live with her youngest daughter's family.

After joining her church, she met Leonard Wallner Sr., who was retired from the Alaska Railroad. They married December 8, 2001.

Beverly was both an accomplished, published writer of prose and talented photographer.

She spent many years perfecting her photography of flowers and the beautiful Alaska scenery. Her exquisite art has been seen the world over.

Her greatest delight was to give her art away. Alaska was her passion and her home.

Her ashes will be spread near Mount McKinley.

She is survived by her husband, Leonard Wallner Sr., her brother; Lee Pretz, wife; Carol of WA., son; James Dagley, wife Leanna of Anchorage, daughter Beverly &#8220Jaiden” Dagley of Wasilla, son James Dagley of Wasilla, daughter Barb Adams, husband Sam of Wasilla, stepson Leonard Wallner Jr., and wife Vicky of Palmer. Beverly has four grandsons and three granddaughters.

A memorial service will be held at Valley Baptist Tabernacle on May 11, 2006, at 3 p.m.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.