NILE THEODORE DeLAND

Longtime Alaskan Nile Theodore “Ted” DeLand, 81, died June 8, 2010, after a lengthy illness at his home in Sun City West, Ariz.

A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. July 7 at Palmer Elks Lodge on Finger Lake. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Nile T. DeLand to Hospice of the Valley, 1410 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.

Mr. DeLand was born June 13, 1928, in Winter, Wis., and moved with his family to Alaska as part of the Matanuska Valley Colony project in 1935. He attended Palmer schools until joining the Navy in 1945.

After returning to Alaska, he married Gloria Lepak and made his home in Palmer, where they raised two children, Ben and Terri. Mr. DeLand held many jobs before being employed by Johnson’s Fuel Service, where he worked for 20 years.

“As a nature lover and great outdoorsman, Ted cherished the companionship of his son, grandsons and friends on many fishing and hunting trips,” his family wrote. “Trolling for lake trout in front of his beloved cabin on Lake Susitna was his most cherished activity. Being very ill when he made his last trip to Alaska last summer, he was still able to catch two silver salmon at his lifelong stomping ground, Jim Creek. In addition, smoking salmon and preparing indigenous meals from his legendary garden were also passions of his.

“He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tease. He will be remembered for his love of family, friends and pets and his kind, gentle nature. Most of all, Teddy’s ability to put a smile on your face and to find good in anybody he came across will be his lasting legacy.”

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gloria; their two children, Ben (Cheryl) DeLand and Terri (Chris) Barrett; five grandchildren, Tom DeLand, Tim (Meghan) DeLand, Tiffani (Brian) Alexander, Melanie DeLand and Benjamin J. Butt; seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

He is also survived by his brother, Don (Pat) DeLand, and sisters, Evon Wilson and Gen Hanson.

Mr. DeLand was preceded in death by his father, Nile DeLand; mother, Helen Palmer; sister, Leola Rush Hansen, and stepfathers, Zole Scott and Issac Palmer.