TERESA MARY HARTUNG

Lifetime Alaskan Teresa Mary Hartung, 89, died June 12, 2010, at her home in Palmer surrounded by family and friends.

Teresa was born April 25, 1921, in Cordova, the 11th of 12 children of pioneer Alaskans Harry and Florence O’Neill. Teresa spent most of her school years in Cordova, with one year at St. Anne’s Parochial School in Juneau. She graduated from Anchorage High School in April 1938. Teresa was the fourth O’Neill to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks, following brothers William, Patrick and Francis.

Teresa was active in basketball, skiing, cheerleading, archery and other sports, as well as her business administration curriculum during her two years at the University. In the summers, Teresa worked in Mt. McKinley Park waitressing at Camp 66 and as a stenographer in Fairbanks.

Introduced by fabled McKinley and Fairbanks cook Wes Kennedy, Teresa married the love of her life, Norman Hartung, in September 1940, whom she had met in Fairbanks. They resided in Anchorage then Fairbanks, and in 1949 moved to Sutton to run Alpine Inn for the O’Neill Family. The next year they moved to Palmer, where they raised their family.

Teresa supported Norm in the coal mine business and later the operation of Norm’s Super Service Gas Station at the Hartley’s Garage. When Teresa worked outside the home she was a telephone operator, did teletype at the Frontiersman newspaper and for several years worked at Lea’s Dress Shop.

Teresa and Norm travelled extensively before and after Norm retired in 1976. Longtime family friend Sea Captain Miles Rice would settle in a country in which he was working, find the best restaurants and exotic places to visit and call the Hartungs. They travelled to England, Germany, Spain, Italy, Bahrain, Beirut, Constantinople, Crete, Switzerland, Bangkok, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, on the narrow-gauge railroad from Singapore to Northern Penang, and later to New Zealand with family and friends from Palmer. Captain Miles Rice, with Teresa and Norm, travelled from Louisiana to Seattle on a fishing vessel, stopping in Mexico and crossing the Panama Canal.

They spent their retirement years at their cabin on Horseshoe Lake. There were parties, card games, cribbage tournaments and socializing at their house prior to barge cruises on the lake. Teresa’s quick wit, excitement for life and ability to organize made the lake the happiest place for all her children, grandchildren and friends.

After Norm’s death in March 1990, Teresa slept with a suitcase on her bed in case someone suggested going on a trip. Dancing was her special passion, along with gardening, cruising, travelling and visiting with friends. She maintained contact in the family, especially with relatives who had moved Outside and beyond. She always tried to visit old friends during family trips to the Lower 48 and loved introducing relatives to each other, keeping family history alive.

She was an exquisite handicrafts creator, crocheting and knitting all manner of finely detailed articles for family and friends. Teresa’s quiet counsel and willingness to help others was well known and respected. Teresa was a member of Palmer Elks Lodge 1842, Loyal Order of Moose Palmer Lodge, Alaska Yukon Pioneers and University of Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Association.

Teresa was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Hartung; her brothers, Harry, William, Phillip, Edward, Michael and Francis O’Neill; and her sisters, Alice O’Neill, Florence (Rusty) Imlach, and Margaret Altiser.

She is survived by her son, Harry Hartung, Palmer; daughters, Carol (Jeff) Stewart and Patricia Hartung (Dan Stewart), both of Washington; grandchildren, Keith Stewart, Craig (Esther) Stewart and Brenda Stewart, all of Washington, Danielle (Kele) Gaughen of Calif. and Janelle Hartung of Utah; her sister, RoseMary Clark of Oregon; brother, Patrick O’Neill of Connecticut; and seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and close friends.

Memorial donations can be sent to Mat-Su Homecare and Hospice at 950 E. Bogard, Suite 132, Wasilla, AK 99654, or to a charity of your choice.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held for Teresa at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Palmer at 1 p.m. June 26. Visitation with the family will be at noon and there will be a celebration of her life after Mass in the church basement hall.

Arrangements are being made by Kehl’s Palmer Chapel.