Myrtle E. Moline

Myrtle E. Moline, 93, died Sept. 17, 2011, at her home in Wasilla.

She was born March 14, 1918, in Chippewa Falls, Wisc., and lived in the Great Lakes area until she moved to Alaska in July 1949 with her husband, Harold Moline and their three children, James, John and Mary.

In their early years of living in Alaska, they moved following where construction work took them. Starting in Anchorage then Palmer, Cordova and then back to Anchorage in 1957.

In 1959, Myrtle was widowed, leaving her to provide for her three children. She then went into the workforce, but first had to learn to drive.

She was a bookkeeper, office worker and held a variety of other jobs along the way. She created Moline’s Garden on Baxter Road in East Anchorage until moving to the Valley. She was one of original growers of the all-blue Lobelia baskets.

After retiring and giving up “city” life in Anchorage, she moved to Palmer near Bodenburg Butte, taking her 60-foot greenhouse with her. There she grew flowers and vegetables, spent time with family and enjoyed the lifestyle. She lived there until the early 1990s when the Matanuska River flooded and changed course.

Then tragically in 1991 it eroded the riverbanks, taking her greenhouse, home and property. She then moved to Wasilla with her long-term companion and friend, Don Hunt.

They found a home overlooking Finger Lake, which reminded her of a birdhouse. She was very grateful to live there. She would tell visitors, “God, must have built this house” because of the breathtaking views of Pioneer Peak, Finger Lake and the surrounding Valley.

One of her last desires was fulfilled this past summer — to sit on the deck admiring the view while eating a ripe, homegrown tomato. This was a tradition of growing produce for themselves as well as family that had occurred for many years and was passed down though the generations.

“We give thanks to all who helped her, including Mat-Su Hospice, Turn-a-Leaf, but most of all, Don Hunt. Without his help she would not have been able to spend her last years in the home she loved,” her family wrote.

No visitation or formal service is planned at her request. Myrtle will be honored at 2 p.m., Jan. 8 at the Palmer Train Depot as part of the Mat-Su Regional Home Health and Hospice’s “Gathering of Remembrance.”

Myrtle was an avid gardener and loved books, traveling, cooking, berry picking and the outdoors.

Surviving are longtime friend and companion, Donald Hunt of Wasilla; son and daughter-in-law John and Sue Moline of Sterling; daughter and son-in-law, Mary Moline and Harry Haywood of Anchorage; grandchildren, Cindy and Gary Friesen of North Dakota, James “Jim” Moline of Arizona, Robert, and David and Katherine Karabelnikoff of Anchorage; great-grandchildren, Alyssa Godes of Wasilla, Breanna Godes of North Dakota and Tyson Moline of Arizona.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Harold Moline; son, James Lee Moline; sisters, Doris Seisennop and Lydia Pifer; and brothers, Robert and Richard Wendt.

In lieu of flowers, send donations to Valley Hospice Resources, 1150 S. Colony Way, Suite 3 PMB 349, Palmer, AK 99645.

Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory cared for the family.