ROSE EDA SELLER PALMQUIST

Rose Eda Seller Palmquist, 97, died on June 11, 2003, from pneumonia, at the Palmer Pioneer Home. She was born on a stormy Sunday morning on Jan. 14, 1906, in Morgantown-Duluth, Minn., to Austrian-Hungary heritage.

She said, "The biggest difficulty I face in my entire life was getting an education with no money." She earned a bachelor's degree in social services, however, and a master's degree in political science from the University of Minnesota. She dedicated her life to her social and political activist pursuits.

In 1955, she homesteaded in Houston, where she lived until 1971. In 1966, she was a leader in the organization in founding the city of Houston. In 1971, she moved to Wasilla where she spent many hours on her yard, garden and beautiful flowers. From 1972 to 1976 she was appointed by President Ronald Reagon to head up the Older Persons Action Group and also worked in Juneau organizing the Alaskan Longevity Program. From 1983 to 1990 she was elected to a seat on the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly. As the pace of her life slowed she went back to her yard and flowers, but she stayed active in many groups and organizations -- Homesteader's Community Club, Pioneers of Alaska, Democratic Party, and Habitat for Humanity. She also endowed the Alaska Pacific University with all her assets to further her cause to help in the education for us all.

She is survived by her brother George Shurin of Seattle, Wash., and her children Barbara (Beaulieu) Sireno of Cheshire, Conn., Michael E. Palmquist of Wasilla, Kelline (Fike-Lankford) Ladere of Trapper Creek; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She requested no funeral or memorial service.