RALPH E. ROWSEY

Ralph E. Rowsey, 56, of Knik, died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004, at his residence after a two-year battle with cancer.

Mr. Rowsey wanted no formal service arrangements. Special friends held a wake on Sunday, Sept. 12, at Knik. Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Mr. Rowsey was born Nov. 10, 1948. He was born in Dillon, Mont., of parents Glenn and Dorothy (Porter) Rowsey, and spent the first 16 years of his life in the Anaconda and Big Hole areas of Montana. He moved with his parents to Anchorage in 1965. He returned to Montana for a few years and again returned to his favorite state and settled at the family homestead near Knik.

His family said, "He was a roofer and sheet-metal worker by trade and could do about any kind of work he put his hand to. He especially liked to figure out a way to make something, even if he had to make his own pattern.

"Playing cribbage and pinochle with family and friends, making wooden items and games, fishing and anything that pertained to the out-of-doors around the homestead were among his favorite pastimes. He was a kind and gentle man with a great sense of humor who enjoyed almost everyone, with the possible exception of lawyers."

He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Dorothy, and brothers, Roy and Ray Rowsey.

He is survived by his children, Shane King of Anchorage, Glenda King of Seward and Alicia (Michael) Hess of Helena, Mont.; sisters, Darlene (Jerry) Harpster of Butte, Mont., and Glenna (Don) Waltee of Whitehall, Mont.; sister-in-law, Peg Rowsey of Deer Lodge, Mont.; aunt, Millie Wolff of Port Orchard, Wash.; grandchildren, Shaylee King of Seward, Kaiden and Taylor Hess of Helena, Mont., and Cory Ray of Anchorage; nieces and nephews, David (Fiona) Harpster of Troutdale, Ore., Teresa Anderson of Boise, Idaho, Lisa Lorts of Chandler, Ariz., Sundra (Geoff) Edwards of Mesa, Ariz., Russell (Patty) Rowsey, Roger (Debbie) Rowsey, Ryan (Charity) Rowsey and Robbie (Jeanice) Rowsey, all of Helena, Mont., Troy (Jamie) Rowsey of Sacramento, Calif. and Raelyn Rowsey of Thetford Center, Vt., and stepdaughters, Debbie (Lincoln) Fischer of Wasilla and Jamie Kluck of Palmer.