Mildred Elizabeth Minnick

Wrapped in the love and comfort of her children and grandchildren, long time Alaskan resident Mildred Elizabeth Minnick (known to many as Mama Middy) passed gently into Heavens Gates on Jan. 5, 2018 at the age of 88. Born in RIddlesburg, Pennsylvania on June 17, 1929, Midge homesteaded in Wasilla Alaska with her Husband Wilbert “Jack” Minnick and 4 young children, (Sandy, John, Terry and Danny) arriving April 1, 1955, traveling the Alaska Highway all the way from Yellow Creek, Pennsylvania.

Midge and Jack joined Midge’s parents (Della and Vincent Smith) her sister Betty and 4 brothers (Richard, Rodney, Benny and Jerry Cottle) and their families in the Mat Su Valley. While Sister Marge built a life in the Suburbs of Chicago. While Jack began work in the Jonesville Mines, Midge worked at raising their children, creating a home and working at Teelands’ Country Store all while building lifelong roots in the Wasilla Community. Midge and Jack continued to grow their family by 3 more children (Paul, Judy and Shane) while settling into life in the Valley.

As a natural born “giver” Midge decided to go into Nursing. In her earlier years Midge worked at the Palmer Pioneer Home (earning her nursing certificate by taking night classes) while her Mother Della resided there, so they could be together daily. After her journey at the Palmer Pioneer Home, Midge continued her career at Valley Hospital bringing new life in to the world as a “Delivery Nurse”. Even assisting in delivering her own grandson Joshua Jack one fine March day. In her later years Midge worked as a private nurse and caregiver for the true Pioneers of Alaska. In 1987 Midge became a stay at home mother once again, after inheriting 5 grandchildren from her Daughter Sandy, who passed away after a short illness. Midge had children in the Mat Su School district for 45 continuous years, when her granddaughter Amber graduated from Wasilla High School in 2000.

Midge traveled throughout the United States her entire life. Her earliest memory of travel was by Train in 1936 with Sisters Betty and Marjorie and their Father John Cottle to see Shirley Temple perform. She cherished the long Alaska Summers when she and daughter Judy could load the motor home up with kids and hit the Alaska Highway. Weather a weekend trip to Fairbanks or Denali National Park. A weeklong trip to Homer and Kenai or a 2 month adventure across the US to see family, friends and the wonders of the world. Midge was also no stranger to airline travel. Maui and Vegas always top destinations. Eager to pack her bags and see what the world had to offer, never forgetting to make sure she had her family in tow.

A true “GIVER” and never one to look back at the hard times, Midge was always the eternal optimist and will forever be remembered as one of the finest ladies to ever grace the Mat Su Valley. All those blessed enough to call Midge: Mom, Grandmother, Mama Middy, Aunt Middy or Just plain old Midge, Will FOREVER be better people of the world. Having lost her one and only true love Jack in 1992 after 47 years of marriage, Midge begins her newest adventure with Jack after 25 years apart. Besides joining her true love in Heavens Kingdom, she reunites with their daughter Sandy, their son Danny and many other loved ones.

She leaves behind sons John, Terry, Paul, Shane and Daughter Judy. Brother Benny Cottle. Countless Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and Great, Great Grandchildren. Blessed with SO many babies to LOVE! The Minnick family invites you to celebrate the life of Mama Middy on January 27, 2018 at 2 p.m. at the VFW Post 9365 located at 301 E. Lakeview Ave. Wasilla, Alaska. Please bring your favorite story to share with us as this is a time to reflect a life well lived. Private services for the family will take place at a later time.