RICHARD "DICK" BELAK

Richard "Dick" Belak, 80, died March 6, 2004, in the comfort of his home in Willow.

A memorial celebration will be held in Willow at a later date.

Mr. Belak was born in Eureka, Calif., on Jan. 22, 1924, to Frank and Philomena (Lukes) Belak.

He was one of six children which included brothers Frank and Otto and sisters Dorthy, Bessy and Mary, all of Humbolt County. Growing up in California he loved waterskiing and deer hunting.

He joined the military in 1943. At 19 years old he was a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force working as a sheetmetal specialist patching bomber aircraft in England. During his active duty he received a Good Conduct Medal, a Bronze Battle Star and a World War II Victory Medal. After his discharge from the Air Force he worked at a blacksmith shop, as a logger felling redwoods, and as a carpenter.

Shortly after the 1964 earthquake, Mr. Belak came to Alaska to work in Seward as a welder rebuilding the docks and bridges destroyed by the tidal wave. He decided to stay and make a life for himself in Alaska. He worked on the oil platforms, the Valdez pipeline and finally the North Slope, where he remained until he retired.

He spent his leisure time fishing on Willow Creek, hunting the back country in his Rollagon and helping his friends -- if he wasn't reading a Louis L'Amour book.

Mr. Belak was preceded in death by his wife Catherine (Barry) Belak. He is survived by his son Richard "Jim" Belak of Willow; adopted daughter Candy (Belak) George of St. Helens, Ore.; step-daughter Terri True of Anchorage; step-son Ronald Short of Anchorage; caregiver Linda Deeble; grandchildren Tommi (Lambert) Willard, Joshua George and Brandy George of St. Helens, Natash (True) Pope of Wasilla, and Patricia True of Anchorage; great-grandson Colten Willard of St. Helens; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and extended family in the Lower 48.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.