Pioneers of Alaska Women’s Igloo charter members honored

PALMER — Pioneers of Alaska Women’s Igloo No. 11 met April 1 at the Palmer Senior Center for its 28th annual Roll Call celebration and regular meeting.

The celebration included a potluck with the men’s Igloo No. 31 and a ceremony honoring the five remaining charter members.

The Igloo was established in 1962 and five charter members are still living: Louise Bidondo, Marie Betts, Rosemary Carlow, Ruth Estelle and Katherine Hurley. Only Betts and Bidondo were in attendance.

When they applied to the Igloo in 1962, each woman wrote a brief biography on their applications. Below are excerpts from their bios:

Marie Betts

“I was born in Anchorage, at which time my folks liked at Pittman, later moving to Matanuska for about a year. In 1925, we moved to Wasilla, which has remained my home the biggest part of the time. After I was married, I spent four years at the Gold Cord Mine. The last four years I have spent most of my time at Little Susitna Lodge, which we own at this time.”

When Betts was asked to tell a story about a past memory, the first thing that came to her mind was a story about the community of Matanuska.

“In the community of Old Matanuska a band of goats got loose and made its way to the Matanuska Hotel, which was owned by Phil Allen. The goats entered the hotel, made their ways upstairs and laid down on bunk beds in some of the empty rooms and fell asleep,” she said.

Louise Bidondo

“I was born in Palmer on May 14, 1938, in the Valley Hospital. I went to school in Palmer for 12 years. After graduating from Palmer High School, I went to work at the Palmer City Hall, where I worked until I married in 1957. My husband and I lived in Palmer until September 1960, then went on a short vacation in the south 48 and made our home in Spenard when we returned where we still live.”

Her family was replacement colonists and had the colony farm where the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is now. Her family goes back to around 1929. Her grandmother, Laura Saebo, mother Peal Bronson and sister-in-law Donna Loberg and sister Lillian Plumley also joined as charter members.

Rosemary Carlow

“Born in Anchorage Aug. 8, 1927. Lived in Matanuska, then Anchorage, then back to Matanuska in pre-school years. Grade 1 through 3 at Matanuska, four through high school at Palmer. Moved to Anchorage in May 1945. Married February 1946 to Irwin N. (Bill) Carlow. Have lived in Anchorage since 1945 except for eight months in California in 1951-52. Children — Diane, born March 1953 and Bill, adopted when 5 days old in May 1959. Interests: Girl Scouting, homemakers, sewing, knitting, reading, loafing and when I get a chance, traveling.”

Ruth Estelle

“My father came to Alaska in 1901 to work at the Experiment Station at Sitka and my mother to teach Sitka in 1907. They were married in 1909 and spent the rest of their lives at Sitka. I grew up and finished high school in Tacoma and graduated from Oregon State College in 1934. Spent one year as a dietician intern at University of Michigan Hospital and six months working for the Department of Health in Detroit. Came to Palmer to work as a Home Demonstration agent in 1936. Married in 1938 to Howard Estelle, then Extension Agent, farmed in Anchorage, Wasilla and back to Palmer. Four children born in Palmer and three in Anchorage.”

In 1963, Ruth opened a flower shop in downtown Palmer, which she operated for about 20 years.

Katherine Hurley

“Am at present a member of Pioneers Auxiliary No. 6, Juneau and have been for nine years. Born in Juneau, graduated from Juneau High School in 1939, business college in Portland for nine months, employed as stenographer in Governor’s Office, Juneau December 1940. Promoted to assistant secretary in 1943 and served as secretary to the governor from 1945 to 1953. Chief Clerk at Alaska’s Constitutional Convention November 1955 to February 1956. Secretary of the Senate 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1960. Married John Hurley in 1960 and retired to become a fulltime housewife and mother.”