Betty Hoffman

Betty Hoffman, a former Sitka resident, passed away on April 11 in Vancouver Washington. She was 94.

She was born April 19, 1926, in Kelso, Washington, the daughter of Bertel and Glades Johnson.

She was married to Doyle Hoffman on January 6, 1944, in Kelso, Washington. They had two sons, Richard (Rick) and Larry, both born in Longview Washington.

In 1954 the family moved to Ketchikan, where they lived until the boys graduated from high school. They then moved to Sitka, in 1966. They traveled throughout Southeast Alaska on their live-aboard yacht, the Grumpy, while  Doyle worked as a pipefitter.

In 2012 they moved back south to live with their son Larry and his wife, Judy, in Vancouver. In 2013 they moved to the Van Mall Retirement Center, where her husband Doyle died  October 11, 2014.  She remained there until her passing.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Doyle and son Larry. She is survived by her son Richard (Rick) and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rev. Donald Wilson McCarty

Rev. Donald Wilson McCarty, a long-time resident of Sitka, completed this life in Nampa, Idaho, on May 3, 2020. He was 84.

Don was born June 25, 1935, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of Naomi and Rayburn McCarty.

He is survived by his wife, Kay, whom he married in Albuquerque, in 1955. With their family of three young children Don managed to graduate from Pasadena Nazarene College  in California in 1965, becoming the first college graduate in his family. Subsequently he served as pastor of Churches of the Nazarene in Heppner, Oregon, Othello, Washington, and Post Falls, Idaho, before coming to Sitka in January 1982 to serve the church here. 

Upon retiring from the Christian ministry in 1988, he became a picture framer and joined his wife, who is an artist, in the successful management of Kay McCarty Gallery.

Besides Kay, of Sitka, he is mourned today by their children, Rick McCarty and Elizabeth of Williamsburg, Virginia; Terrie Rhoads and Steve of Kamiah, Idaho; and Gary McCarty and Connie, of Sitka.

The grandchildren and great-grandchildren are: Max McCarty; Jesse Rhoads and his wife Ashley; Tyler and Jael McCarty, with their daughters Taylor and Hadley; Colby and Jessica McCarty, with their children Avery and Cohen; and Hanna McCarty. Their love for their Grandpa was boundless.

Don passed away serenely on Sunday morning as his grandson, Colby, read a Psalm. With his body debilitated by a sequence of strokes, and his mind increasingly beclouded, he remained ever in good spirits. More than once, and with astonishing clarity, he quoted, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

Services are pending.

Geraldine (Geri) Isabelle Kennedy

Geraldine (Geri) Isabelle Kennedy, 96, died at her Sitka home of age-related causes on May 15, 2020.

She was born at home, in Wrangell, on December 24, 1923, to Nettie (Carrasco) and Paul Young Jones. Vital Statistics says Dec. 21, but her family all swear by Dec. 24.  She was the fifth of seven kids – her siblings were Harold, Pauline, Irene, Ernestine (Babe), Frank and Maxine.

Geri’s primary school years were spent in various boarding schools in Southeast Alaska, always with a sibling or two.  She graduated in Ketchikan in 1941, then attended one year of school at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.

After World War II, she married William (Bill) Kennedy, also of Ketchikan, on June 15, 1946, at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church on Woodland Avenue.

Geri worked retail jobs, child care for various friends and relatives, and at Fidalgo Cannery for many summers through the 1970s. 

She was not a member of any local clubs or organizations, but she did re-discover her Native culture in the early 1980s. She learned every craft that offered a class; NW Coast basketry, carving, design (formline), engraving, weaving, and regalia-making. Her basketry skills were very appreciated by many, for many years. Liked and loved by just about anyone she met throughout her life, she always had a smile to share, and was good with a surprise occasional one-liner when dealing with life’s challenges

Geri was preceded in death by all of her immediate family, parents and siblings, her husband William (in 1995), and her son Billy (in 1962).

She is survived by her three daughters and one son; Joanna Hendricks (William Kendricks) of Ketchikan, Arlene Kennedy of Sitka, Susan LaFray David LaFray) of Boise, Idaho, and Rob Kennedy (Ann Ludeman Kennedy) of Port Orchard, Washington.

Numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews, and many others who knew her affectionately as “Aunty Geri” also survive.

No funeral or memorial services are scheduled at this time. Memorial plans for Ketchikan and Seattle will be announced when made.

Louis Soha

Louis Soha, a retired Alaska Airlines pilot with ties to Sitka, died in Oakville, Washington, on March 6. He was 96.

He was born on March 5, 1924, to Michael and Sophie Soha in Crystal Falls, Michigan, the youngest of seven children. His father was killed in a mining accident several months after Lou was born and he was raised by his mother and older siblings. Possessed of innate intelligence and natural athletic ability, he was valedictorian of his graduating high school class, All Upper Peninsula in football, a Golden Gloves finalist and a semi-professional baseball player.

Together with four of his older brothers, and virtually every boy in his Crystal Falls High School class of 1942, he enlisted in the service immediately upon graduation. During the war, his mother Sophie had five sons serving in active combat theatres in Europe, North Africa, Burma and the South Pacific. He saw combat as a Marine Corps fighter pilot flying Corsairs in the South Pacific. Among other medals, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor in combat. Following his honorable discharge, he ventured to Alaska where he flew as a bush pilot out of Fairbanks and Fort Yukon until he joined Alaska Airlines in 1950, retiring from Alaska Airlines in 1984 after a career that included flying aircraft ranging from the piston driven Norseman, DC-3 and C-130 to modern Boeing jets. Throughout the 1960s and ’70s he flew the milk run in Southeast Alaska with Sitka being his favorite station.

Lou met the love of his life, Evelyn O’Hara, in Fairbanks. Married in 1950, they went on to raise 10 children, first in Fairbanks and Anchorage and then in Seattle, until finally settling in Oakville, Washington. Throughout their married life, Lou and Evelyn traveled extensively throughout the United States, Western and Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom and the Middle East. Alaska, however, remained their favorite destination and they spent many happy hours pulling their Airstream behind their trusty Ford F250, exploring the wilds of Alaska and Northern Canada and mining for gold out of Chicken, Alaska. In their retirement they often returned to Sitka to visit family, including their daughter, Barbara Morse, and her family.

Lou was a classic member of the Greatest Generation. He was forever proud of his Polish heritage and his Marine Corps service, although he rarely discussed the particulars of his wartime experiences and it was typical that his family became aware of his DFC only when one of his sons was doing random on-line family research. Above all, he was fiercely devoted to his loving wife and family and to his Catholic faith.

Lou was predeceased by Evelyn in 2006 and by a son, Paul Soha, in 2019. He will forever be held in loving memory by his nine surviving children, 33 grandchildren and more than 30 great-grandchildren. A graveside funeral service was held at St. Joseph’s Catholic cemetery in Elma, Washington, that included a Marine color guard and a Piper Cub “flyover.” “Semper fi” Louis Soha!

Althea Rebecca Buckingham

Althea Rebecca Buckingham passed away May 13, 2020, in Puyallup, Washington, at the age of 97.

She was born on Oct. 31, 1922, to Clarence and Hopewell Rands in Corvallis, Oregon. Because of the Depression the family moved to Juneau, Alaska, in 1935, where her parents ran a boarding house to make ends meet.  She and her sisters, Margaret and Barbara, helped their mother with cleaning and cooking until the family again moved in 1938 to Sitka, where Clarence had accepted a job as manager of the retail yard of Columbia Lumber Company.   

Althea graduated from Sitka High School in 1940 and went on to college at Oregon State University in Corvallis.  She transferred to the University of Washington in 1943 but returned to Sitka in 1945 before she completed her degree.  She married Fred A. Shabo on Nov. 1, 1946, in St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. This union produced four children; Kenneth Duane, Frederick Wakefield, Rebecca Jeanne and Deborah Ann.  Because Mr. Shabo was a chief warrant officer in the Coast Guard, the family moved around the country quite often, but Althea was able to bring her children home to Sitka for extended visits when her husband was deployed.

In 1959 Althea and her children moved home to Sitka, where she worked for her parents at the Market Center and Sitka Music Store (later Random House).  In 1962 she married Sherman T. Buckingham and after a short stay in Washington State the family lived in Sitka, where Althea worked as an accountant for Sheldon Jackson College.  When they relocated to Walla Walla, Washington, in 1966, she worked as an accountant for Walla Walla Community College.

After Mr. Buckingham’s death in 1968 Althea remained in Walla Walla until her children finished college in 1972, and then made another move to Wisconsin, where she went back to school and studied to become a certified occupational therapy assistant.  She accepted an OTA job in Black Mountain, North Carolina, where she remained until she retired and returned to Sitka in 1988. 

Althea was very active in community service. She founded the Sitka Assembly’s Commission on Aging, served on the Commission of Health Needs and Community Services and the Sitka Community Hospital Board and also participated in Sitka’s Faith in Action and Brave Heart Volunteers.  Her favorite volunteer activity was sharing Sitka with the many visitors at the cruise ship docks while working with the Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In 2006 Althea made her final move to Puyallup, to be near family and medical services.

She is survived by her sisters, Barbara Hames of Sitka and Margaret Morrison of Watsonville, California; her four children, Duane Shabo (Sue) of Lake Tapps, Washington, Rick Shabo (Suzy) of Camano Island, Washington, and Becky Brown (Earl) and Debby Wade (Ken) of Puyallup;  nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Because of the current restrictions in place as a result of the pandemic, memorial services for Althea will be scheduled in Sitka at a later date.

Ursula Barbara Zertuche (Rathe)

Ursula Barbara Zertuche (Rathe) was born on March 4, 1940, in Dusseldorf, Germany, to George and Margaret Rathe. She passed away on May 21 at her home in Sitka.

Ursula grew up in Cologne, Germany, where her parents owned a restaurant and guest house.

She and her sister Annagret worked in the family business, and it was there she developed her love for cooking. She had fond memories of working with her mother in the kitchen and learning the hospitality trade. She attended business school in Cologne, where she took bookkeeping classes.

Ursula met and, in 1963, married Harold Conner, who was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Air Force.

They lived in Germany and Spain for the next three years. Her only child, Ron, was born in Spain on December 8, 1963. They left Germany in 1966 and moved to Virginia, where Harold was stationed. Then it was on to Kansas and Arizona.

She obtained her U.S. citizenship in 1974, while living in Arizona. This was something that made her immensely proud. In Arizona she worked for Motorola and at several restaurants and hotels. She owned two horses while in Arizona, Rocky and Scout. She enjoyed showing and riding them.

In 1980, an opportunity to come to Alaska presented itself. Ursula and her son took the big step and traveled to Sitka. This was obviously a big change from Mesa, Arizona. It didn’t take long for her to appreciate living in a small town. She worked first at the Potlatch House, and then the Sheffield Hotel.

She moved from Sitka, back to Arizona in 1988. There she met and later married Alfonso (Al) Zertuche.

She worked for a hotel/resort in Casa Grande and Al was self-employed. They would take many weekend trips to Las Vegas or Laughlin. Following Al’s retirement in 2000, they moved to Del Rio, Texas, where Al was originally from. He passed away in 2008 and Ursula moved back to Sitka in 2013. She lived in the apartment at her son and daughter-in-law’s home until her death.

Ursula loved to cook for her family, spend time with family and friends, read, and walk her dog.

Although she had numerous health issues, she was always fiercely independent. She would hardly ever ask for any assistance.

“We will miss her stories, sense of humor, her tenacity and, of course, her cooking,” her family said.

Her survivors include her son Ron and daughter-in-law Sonja Conner of Sitka; grandson Chatham Conner and Samantha Sparks, and great-granddaughter Brigsleigh Conner, Sitka; grandsons Carson Conner of Wasilla and Josiah Hill of Montana; grandson Traz and Lanie Hill, and great-grandsons Bryson and Bryn of Idabel, Oklahoma; grandson Bailey Hill and great-granddaughter Mila Baylor of Spokane, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Brave Heart Volunteers or the Swan Lake Senior Center.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

William Eli “Buddy” Howard

With his family at his side, William Eli “Buddy” Howard, journeyed to the other shore on June 4, 2020, in Anchorage. He was 78. He was comforted in life by his wife, Sandy Howard, and their children: Tommy Harrison, Lonnie Harrison, Danny Harrison, Julene Howard, John Howard, Nathan Howard, Gregory Wright, Keith Nelson, Jeffrey Devlin, Joshua Wright, and Patrick Howard. He was extremely committed to family being together.

Buddy was born March 10, 1942, and raised in Sitka; he was a Sitka High School alumnus. He served in the U.S. Army, returned to Southeast Alaska where he worked, raised his family, and honored his Tlingit culture.

His Tlingit name was Shaayi Éesh, of the L’uxnaxh.adi (Coho) clan from Kayaash Ka Hit. He is the child and grandchild of the Chookaneidi clan. He was a Hit S’aati (Clan House Caretaker) of the Mother Coho House in Sitka, and he provided clan leadership in Hoonah. He lived a subsistence lifestyle in Sitka and Hoonah.

Buddy’s jobs in Sitka included as a Teamster truck driver on the airport construction job; firefighter who battled the Sitka Cold Storage fire;  Anchor Taxi driver; and bartender at the American Legion, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, and Ernie’s Old Time Saloon. 

He worked for the Alaska Marine Highway System and skippered the M/V Dolphin and the M/V Marmot,  buying fish for Wards Cove Packing Co. out of Excursion Inlet.

In Hoonah, where Buddy lived with his wife and family, he was an Icy Strait Point bus driver since Huna Totem Corporation’s tourist destination’s beginning days. He also delivered meals to elders and those in need for Catholic Community Services of Juneau.

While he was working a Sitka job, it was reported in the Nov. 27, 1961, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: “A young couple and their four-year-old son undoubtedly owe their lives to the quick action of Daniel Cole, construction and maintenance superintendent at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. At 4:25 p.m. yesterday Cole with a fellow island employee, Buddy Howard, was working on a barge about 100 yards from the shore at Mt. Edgecumbe. Howard noted a boat in distress off the corner of the old pier at the island. Cole jumped into a skiff and as he rowed to the spot noted a man bobbing up and down in the cold waters of the channel. When he reached the area, however, the man was two feet under water and he used a fish net to drag him into the skiff. Then Cole started ashore, but the rescued man revived and cried out his wife and son were trapped in the cabin of the overturned 16-foot boat… Rescued were Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gillian of Sitka and their son, James.”

In his hometown of Sitka, Buddy was a member of the American Legion, Elks Lodge, and Moose Lodge.  He was a beloved St. Michael’s Cathedral Russian Orthodox Church member and an alter boy together with his cousin/brother, Leo Houston, Jr.

He was a shareholder of Sealaska Corp., Huna Totem Corp., and Shee Atiká Inc., having worked—and played Santa Claus—for Shee Atiká. He was enrolled at the Central Council of Tlingit-Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and Sitka Tribe of Alaska.

Buddy was preceded in death by his parents: Eli and Margaret Howard, and Ed and Sarah James; daughter Ann Marie Howard; brothers John Smith Jr. and Robert Smith; cousin/brother Leo Houston, Jr. (born June 4); and many extended family members.

With his wife and children, Buddy leaves siblings Jimmy Howard of Arizona; Ann (Don) Armstrong, Soldotna; Mary I. Miller of Sitka; Walter Smith, Juneau; Norman Smith, Hoonah; and Carolyn Wichman, Kenai.

He also leaves his uncle and clan leader Herman Davis Sr., numerous grandchildren and  great-grandchildren, a large extended and loving family, and many friends who will always remember his strength and conviction, kind and loving character, brilliant smile, and caring nature. 

His family plans to release details of cultural services, church services and other plans later.  The family appreciates all prayers, thoughts, and support. Gunalcheesh.

Elmenda R. “Manda” Johnson

A celebration of the life of Elmenda R. “Manda” Johnson was held 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18, upstairs at the Moose Lodge. The gathering was a potluck.

A service was scheduled at St. Michael’s Cathedral at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 18.

Manda passed away from natural causes on May 28, in Juneau. She was 45.

She was born Sept. 25, 1972, in Sitka, and lived here most of her life. Her Tlingit name was Kaaxkwei and she was of the Kaagwaantaan clan. She was the song caller, a drummer and a master beader.

She loved to make and share her salmon spread and fry bread – and, best of all, her banana cream pie.

She also loved to play softball.

She was a member of the American Legion and Moose Lodge, and St. Michael’s Cathedral.

Kaaxkwei is survived by her children, Naomi Miller of Sitka, Jay and Edward Miller of Juneau, and Michael Miller of Michigan; and three beautiful grandchildren, Alina, Mary and Spencer Miller.

She also is survived by her sisters, Isabell Sam of Anchorage, Tanya Ulrich of Juneau and Sharon Sam of Sitka, and her brother, Gilbert Sam Jr., of Juneau.

Her aunties are Cheryl A. Duncan and Josephine M. Johnson, Sitka; and her uncles are Henry K. Johnson and Jacob G. Johnson of Sitka, Joseph C. Johnson Jr. and Everett A. Johnson of Juneau, and Norman W. Johnson and Michael P. Johnson of Seattle.

Kaaxkwei was preceded in death by her mother, Audrey E. Johnson; grandparents Joseph C. and Agnes F. Johnson and Henry Sam Sr. and Kathy Mayberry; and cousins Harry C. Johnson, Alexandra I. Platt, Rachel Johnson and Blake Ricaporte.

Those needing more information may call Josephine at 738-0712.

Stephanie Joyce Edenshaw

Anchorage resident Stephanie Joyce Edenshaw passed away June 25, 2020, at Alaska Native Medical Center. She was 63.

Burial arrangements are being handled by Janssen Funeral Home. No memorial services will be held; graveside services will be announced at a later date.

Honorary pallbearers will be Clifford Edenshaw, Tracy Shaffer, James S. Keele, Josh Adams, Kay-Ci Lambert and Braden Gomez.

Stephanie was born December 18, 1956, at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka.

Stephanie enjoyed going on road trips; she always had great music playing; and her warm smile made it easy for her to make friends wherever she went.

During the time she spent at her apartment complex, she made many friends, who treasured her.

While Stephanie resided in her hometown of Sitka, she was an active member of Native corporations, Alaska Native Sisterhood, and other organizations she believed in.

Stephanie was retired at the time of her death. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, working on puzzles, gardening, and crocheting.

Stephanie is survived by her daughters, Michelene Adams (Josh Adams) and Tara Edenshaw, all of Anchorage, and Dodi Couch (Duane Couch) of Palmer.

Grandchildren are Kay-Ci Lambert, Marissa Crabtree; Caden Robinson, Abigail Ditullio-Edenshaw all of Anchorage; Dani, Gayden and Ty Couch of Palmer; and Braden Gomez of Colorado Springs, Colorado; nephews Chad Edenshaw of Anchorage, Aaron Edenshaw of Seattle, Washington, Randolph Edenshaw of Tacoma, Washington; and niece Rachel Edenshaw of Sequim, Washington.

She also is survived by her sisters Sally J. Gregory, Frances J. Widmark, Jr. (Tracy Shaffer) and brother Clifford Edenshaw, all of Anchorage; aunt Lorraine Chartrand of Sitka; and numerous cousins and great-cousins.

She was preceded in death by her son Tony (Anthony) J. Pruss; her mother Frances J. Widmark Sr.; stepfather Lawrence Widmark; and her grandson Jason Aldrich.

Stephanie requested to be laid to rest in Anchorage by her son Tony, so, the family decided there will be no service held in Sitka.

Cards of condolence and other communication can be sent to Sally J. Gregory, 905 W. 29th Place, Anchorage, AK 99503.

Jesse Lynn Baxter

Jesse Lynn Baxter

Jesse Lynn Baxter, 30, formerly of Sitka, Halfway, Oregon, and Baker City, Oregon, died suddenly Feb. 7, 2019, in Pendleton, Oregon.
A celebration of her life was held Feb. 16 at Harvest Christian Church in Baker City.
Jesse Lynn Baxter was born March 20, 1988, in Sitka to Dan and Melody Baxter. She spent her first four years in Sitka, where her family commercial fished on their F/V Venus. In 1992 the family moved to Halfway, returning to Southeast for the next 10 summers to fish on their F/V Northern Star.
Jesse was home-schooled, along with her five younger siblings, until her high school years when she took art, Spanish and writing at Pine Eagle High in Halfway.
 From an early age Jesse was a natural at almost everything she did. She thrived in sports, winning Best All Around Gymnast at her very first meet in Burns, Oregon, at the age of 8, and went on to win two state titles in her teen years – one with Baker City girls All-Star softball team, another with Pine Eagle girls basketball team.
Jesse’s other passions included scrap-booking, writing poems and life experiences; she loved documenting everything. She spent hours making photo collages of friends and family that covered her walls.
“She had the biggest heart you could imagine, and always was overly generous,” her family said. “Giving gifts was the highlight of her life; even when she had little to give she would take time to make something herself, and you could always feel how much of her heart really went into it. It was all personal with Jesse, no matter who or what, she truly cared.”
 She attended EOU after receiving her GED in 2005. She left college early to care for her grandma, Helen Baxter, who was fighting cancer. 
 This was the beginning of Jesse’s passion of caring for the elderly. She always had the biggest heart, taking care of everyone else first, her siblings, animals – anything with a pulse, she was saving it. After her grandma passed she worked the next few years in assisted living centers.
Jesse loved the beach, sun and the ocean. She wasn’t fond of winters but always thrived when the sun was shining warm. She loved sand, collected it and would bring it home from every family vacation. The beach was her happy place.
 Jesse always wanted to be a mother and have a family. At the age of 25 she was blessed with the most beautiful baby boy, Taylor John Baxter, who was the joy of her life.  In her last few years she met the love of her life and fiancé, Marcus Allen Nelson. They had a home together in Pendleton, and had plans to be married in the near future.
Jesse was preceded in death by her grandma, Helen Baxter, grandparents Gilbert and Gail Meyer, Pastor Bob Benton, friend, and brother-at-heart Taylor Royce Wood.
Jesse is survived by her son, Taylor Baxter and fiancé Markus Nelson of Pendleton, and her beloved family – parents Dan Baxter of Juneau and Melody Baxter of Baker City, siblings Callie of Sitka and Josh, Abby, Ben and Sam Baxter of Baker City, and many extended relatives, grandparents, aunts, uncles, beloved cousins and friends.
 “Thank you all for your love and support,” her family said. “Rest easy, our beautiful, Jesse.”
“Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres ...” – I Corinthians 13:7.
Those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Jesse to help with service expenses, or for Taylor’s future, may do so through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.

Doris Annette Main

A celebration of the life of Doris Annette Main will be held 4 p.m. Friday, March 22, at Sitka United Methodist Church. A potluck will follow.
Doris died in Sitka on the morning of March 13, 2019. During her 57 years, she blessed many people as a loyal friend, family member and co-worker and will be missed by many.
Doris Annette Schaefer was born March 25, 1961, in Sitka to Katherine and Jack Schaefer. She went to elementary and middle school at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church school, then attended high school at Auburn Academy in Washington.
As a child, Doris took piano lessons, and enjoyed skating on Swan Lake and participating in school and church events with her friends.
She studied anthropology in college briefly in Washington, which reflected her love of culture that began in Gambell, Alaska, while studying her family’s history through ancient artifacts. In her 30s, she attended nursing school at Bartlesville Wesleyan College (now Oklahoma Wesleyan University). She worked as a nurse in Oklahoma at Barnsdall and Pawhuska nursing homes before returning home to Sitka, where she worked until retirement at SEARHC.
Doris loved music from a very young age, playing piano, singing, dancing, and enjoying the expression of music throughout her life. She was the lead singer in the band Sassy during the booming 1980s Sitka music scene.
She met Alan Crookes at a high school summer camp and married him shortly after, forming what some referred to as AC/DC (Alan and Doris Crookes). During that time, Dawson and Murray were born and the family lived in Gildersleeve logging camps in Southeast.
In another era of her life, she married Miles Main and gained three new children, Stacey, Michelle, and Jeff, and many grandchildren (and now great-grandchildren).
Doris loved everything outdoors, regularly hiking trails, camping, and boating. She loved cleaning fish and would find partners to share a large portion of their fish with her if she would clean, freeze, smoke, and jar the catch. Many people living inside and out of Alaska looked forward to receiving the fish she processed.
Doris was recognizable by her infectious, beautiful smile and warm, loving presence. She was the first one to help people in need, giving freely during hard times. Giving gifts was one of the most prominent ways that she showed love to family and friends. Another way she showed her love was to publicly embarrass family through song and dance.
Doris was preceded in death by her father, Jack Schaefer, her step-father Thomas Anderson, her brother Harold Schaefer, and her ex-husband, Miles Main.
Surviving Doris are her mother, Katherine Anderson; siblings Jack and Wes Schaefer, Thomas Anderson and Kimberly Peacocke; niece and nephew Melody and Benjamin Peacocke; children Dawson and Murray Crookes; and grandchildren Rowan, Aerie, Noah, Alana and Lucia Crookes.
Also surviving are a myriad of cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, extended family, step-family, professional, and chosen family.

Ruby Eileen Young

Ruby Eileen Young passed away peacefully in Longview, Washington on March 19, 2019. She was 72. She was with family as she departed.
As a child, Ruby was enamored with Alaska and in 1978 she loaded a dog, a cat, and two young children into a station wagon and moved to Sitka, then settled in Juneau. Having found her paradise, she stayed for nearly 40 years.
Ruby graduated with honors from the University of Alaska Southeast in 1992 and was a marine biology technician for the State of Alaska for nearly  two decades. She retired in 2015.
Ruby loved cats, doing home improvement projects at her house on Birch Lane in Juneau and – above all – her Alaska.
She is survived by her biological children, Thomas Jacobs of Rainier, Oregon, and Heather Jacobs of Doha, Qatar, both of whom inherited her love of learning and excelled in their university studies, a fact that brought her tremendous pride and admiration.
She is also survived by her grandson Roy Champagne of Rosemount, Minnesota; cousin Joe Campbell of Port St. Lucie, Florida; nieces and nephews; and her two cats, Cinquo and Keeko.
The family requests donations be made to the Gastineau Humane Society in lieu of flowers. A small memorial and scattering of the ashes will be announced at a date later this year.

Ernest George Matteson

Ernest George Matteson, age 76, a longtime Sitka fisherman, passed away peacefully in the early morning of May 20, 2019,  in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife Diane and daughters Mia and Cho by his side.
At his request, no services will be held.
Ernie was born in Salmon, Idaho, on December 16, 1942, the only son of Arnold and Helen Matteson.  As a child, Ernie spent many hours fishing  “in every pond, creek, or river that he could find.”  When he was 10, his family visited the West Coast and Ernie saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time. He knew immediately that he wanted to be out on that water, fishing.
As a young man Ernie joined the U.S. Navy and served on the U.S.S. Midway. He was stationed at the naval airbase Atsugi in Japan.  After his military tour was over, Ernie flipped a coin with his cousin Butch to see if he would head to Alaska or Australia. Alaska it was, and he arrived in Sitka to look for fishing work in 1962.
 Ernie’s first solo experience in long-lining halibut was from a Boston Whaler, beaching the boat at night to sleep on various islands. An indefatigable worker, he woke at 3 a.m. most mornings for the rest of his life, and would work steadily until late evening. His hard work paid off, and he soon had a real fishing boat, the Vina.
Somewhere in those early winters, he also drove taxi cab to make ends meet, and would often stop at the Coffee Cup Café for breakfast. It was there that he met Diane Unterwegner, a young Sitka woman who was working as a waitress.  She brought him his coffee, they chatted, he taught her how to play cribbage, and the rest is history.  They were married in Sitka on December 21, 1973. Together they had many adventures, both at sea and on land. Two of their best adventures were their daughters, Amelia Laurel Won, born in 1979, and Hayley Lillian Cho, born in 1981.
Over the years, Ernie and Diane bought many boats, including the Annette, the O.B., the Majestic, and the Myra. During the summers that their two daughters were small, Ernie and Diane ran the fish-buying scow the WonCho, (named after their daughters), which was moored in Murphy Cove in Graves Harbor and later in Kalinin Bay near Sitka. During the winters they lived in Hilo, Hawaii, where Ernie bought a fishing boat, the Audrey Lynn, and fished mahi mahi, swordfish and other tropical fish.
After selling the WonCho, Ernie bought the Gota and returned to fishing. He fished it for 14 years and then bought the Shearwater, a beautiful boat built in 1977, and, finally, the Diane Lynn.
Ernie always moored his boats at the ANB Harbor, his favorite harbor, where he knew everybody, and everybody knew him. Many young fishermen stopped by his boat to ask for advice and share stories.
Although Ernie from time to time hired various deckhands, he was happiest when Diane was by his side, and she was his most consistent fishing partner. She made their boats into cozy second homes with beautifully decorated interiors and delicious meals. She was always his favorite fishing crew, although he also greatly enjoyed, as the years passed,  the seasons when  his daughter Hayley Cho would come along as a deckhand.  He was very proud of her hard work and skill as a fisherwoman.  His daughter Mia kept his boat stocked with homemade cookies, brownies, and other baked treats.
Their family fished a wide variety of fish, including halibut, salmon, black cod, and shrimp, and Ernie briefly worked with cucumber diving crews.
During 2011, Ernie and Diane bought a home in Tucson, where Ernie loved to tend their orange trees and swim in their pool. They also spent a lot of time visiting their daughters and their families.
Also during this time, Ernie sold the Shearwater, and planned to retire. But, old fishermen, they say, cannot stay away from the water for long, and Ernie was no exception. A year or so later, he bought a 25-foot pleasure craft, and tried fishing from it for a season. Frustrated at the limitations of its small size, he sold it, and bought a beautiful 40-foot fishing boat from Canada. When Diane arrived from Tucson to begin the fishing season, she passed a boat called the Diane Lynn. “That boat has my name on it. That should be our boat!” she said. “It is,” he said. They spent the last several seasons fishing her together.
  Ernie loved his family deeply, and was a devoted father to his daughters Mia and Cho, a wonderful grandfather to Mia and Kevin’s daughters Avila and Cambria, enjoyed his step-granddaughter Charlie Lawson, and was thrilled when Cho and her husband Chuck had Arlo George late last year. Arlo, named after Ernie, brought joy to the entire family.
Ernie also loved and appreciated all of his extended family, and was involved in the many adventures of his nieces and nephews and their children.
This spring, Ernie was diagnosed with cancer. Being a strong and tough fisherman, Ernie had quietly been fading away. He passed away ten days after his diagnosis.
Ernie was preceded in death by his grandfather Arthur Matteson, his parents Arnold and Helen Matteson, and his niece Jessica Baggen.
He is survived by his wife Diane, Tucson; his daughters Amelia (Kevin) Morgan, of Amesbury, Massachusetts, and Hayley Cho (Chuck Lawson) Matteson, Denver; and his grandchildren, Avila and Cambria Morgan, and Charlie and Arlo George Lawson.
He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Sandra Fontaine (Curt Ledford) of Sitka, Vicki (George) Baggen, and Kris Unterwegner (Robert Pappe) of Silverton, Oregon; and their children, his nieces and nephews, Keith Ledford (Christi), Janine Ledford, Trevor Harang (Tracie), Sonia Harang Kwon (Trevor Laib), Teresa Miller, Beth Fontaine, Daisy Casey; Cory Baggen, Melissa Turvey (Brent), Amanda Baggen (Jensen Yocum); Kathleen States (Andrew Pienkos), Carson States (Leah), Ryan (Toni) Pappe, Jacob (Meghan Clark) Pappe, and Tanya (Steven) Varner, and their families.
He is also survived by his cousin Art (Earlene) Matteson, of Santa Rosa, California.
His entire extended family deeply mourns Ernie’s passing. His dry humor, his stories, his natty way of dressing, his calm and dignified way of keeping himself erect and moving onward, (sometimes under the most difficult of circumstances), his deep connection and love of his family, and his love for the sea, formed an irreplaceable man.
His niece Kathleen long ago sent Ernie this poem, and Diane found it among his things:
“Love in all its forms is a many splendored thing,
Be it love felt by a peasant
….or love felt by a king.
But the greatest love of all,
Or so the poet wrote,
Is the all-consuming love…
Between a Viking and his boat..”
Fair sailing, Ernie……

Rebecca Aikey

Rebecca Aikey (Rebecca Winzer) went home to be with the Lord on June 17, 2019, while serving with AmeriCorps in Sitka. She was 26.
Rebecca was loved by so many and her sweet, loving, kind, and intelligent personality will be deeply missed.
Rebecca was born on May 27, 1993, to Judy and Carl Winzer in Simi Valley, California. The family moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, when Rebecca was 8 years old. She loved the beauty of Northern Idaho and had many fond memories spending time outdoors with her family.
She also excelled academically and graduated from Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy in 2011.
After graduating from high school, Rebecca attended the University of Idaho and was awarded the Goldwater Scholarship in her sophomore year. She also was a member of the honor society Phi Eta Sigma and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s of science with a major in physics and a minor in mathematics.
She also fulfilled all of the pre-med requirements and gained admission to the prestigious WWAMI medical program. She was enrolled in the program until she took a one-year break to work with the AmeriCorps.
Rebecca was loved by so many and will live on in the memories of her husband Mark Aikey and their son James; her father Carl and mother Sue; her mother Judy; and siblings Sara, Kira and Kate. She is currently reunited with her dear brother James, who passed away in 2012.
 
 
 

Willis Leroy Donnally

Former Sitkan Willis Leroy Donnally went to be home with the Lord on July 3, 2019, just 12 days before his 83rd birthday. A resident of Delta Junction, he was in Fairbanks at the time of his passing.
He was born July 15, 1936, in Everett, Washington. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1956, served two terms, and had an honorable discharge after nine years of serving his country.
He moved to Sitka in 1967 with his wife Claudia and four children, Jody, Katy, Pat and Erin. While in  Sitka, he ran his own commercial fishing boat, and together with his wife operated a fish processing plant, Claudia’s Fisheries.
In 2005, he moved to Delta Junction, into a beautiful log cabin, built by himself, family, and friends. He resided there until he went home to be with the Lord.
“Those who knew our Dad/Grandpa/Uncle knew that he was a one of a kind special character,” his family said. “He not only enjoyed fishing immensely, but more so the telling of a few pretty big fish stories along the way.”
He loved to go moose hunting and fishing with his favorite partner, his son, Pat.  
He enjoyed conversation and meeting new people and offered a warm welcome to those he met.
He celebrated his most favorite holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, with family, having a corned beef & cabbage dinner enjoyed by all. At Christmas time he always took pleasure in his tradition of reading his family “The Legend of the Candy Cane” story.
“Dad was a loving man who will be very much missed,” his family said.
He was preceded by his father, Harvey Andrew Donnally, mother, Earna Cheldelin, and stepfather, George Cheldelin.
He is survived by his former wife, Claudia, of Sitka; daughter Jody Grall and husband Doug of Edmonds, Washington, daughter Katy Rouse and husband John of Sitka, son Pat Donnally and wife Dee of Delta Junction, and daughter Erin Hansen and husband John of Sitka.
His grandchildren are Dale Lindstrom and wife Paula, Jenny Metlicka and husband Scott, Jr. Lindstrom, Kori Lindstrom, Haley LaDuke and husband Jake, and Lee Burkhart. 
His great-grandchildren are Shaylene, Kali, Bubba and Emily Metlicka. Reyana, Kiyara, Robert, Sydney, Ashton Lindstrom. Landon and Sawyer LaDuke. He also is survived by his numerous nieces and nephews of Washington.
    He loved all his family dearly.
A celebration of life and a fishing adventure will take place with family next July 2020 in Delta Junction.

Mrs. Elizabeth Teal

It is with disbelief that the family and loved ones of Mrs. Elizabeth Teal, announce her passing on July 6, 2019, in Sitka. She was 92.
Mrs. Teal was born Martha Elizabeth Ryan on May 26, 1927, one of 12 children of Mr. and Mrs. Albert H. Ryan of Alki Beach, West Seattle.
When she was 10, she experienced the loss of her beloved Mother. During the following eight years, she was placed in 14 different foster homes, an experience that shaped who she was. She often said, “I wanted nothing but my Mother to return but I knew I couldn’t give up, I couldn’t ever give in.”
As a young woman, she worked numerous jobs to help a brother through college. Bob Ryan graduated from Wharton’s School of Business and ran his own wealth management firm until his death in 2012.
During World War II, Mrs. Teal worked on engines, a skill she never divulged, due to its not being ladylike. Manners were important to Mrs. Teal; that’s why she was always, “Mrs. Teal,” and never, “Elizabeth.” If you knew her well, she was simply Bette.
In 1950, Mrs. Teal married the love of her life, Col. W.B. Brinton, who at the time was a King County Commissioner. He built her dream home at 1904 Walnut Avenue SW, where they raised their three sons, Dorian Shelby Brinton, Bryan William Brinton, and James Robert Brinton. All three sons were Eagle Scouts.
Mrs. Teal was an avid outdoorsman and world traveler. She often traveled by ship to Europe to visit her sons, who attended the Munich International School. She instilled in her sons a love for the outdoors. Together they climbed Mt. Rainer, went spelunking in the Big Four Ice Caves, and skied the Alps,  along with taking countless hikes and camping trips.
Mrs. Teal’s boys were her life. All three sons were decorated veterans of the Vietnam War. Tragically, after returning safely from multiple tours in Vietnam, her son Jim Brinton set out on a kayak trip from La Push, Washington, to Tokyo, Japan, in 1971 and died attempting this feat. Less than a year and a half later, her son Dorian Brinton never resurfaced during a scuba diving lesson. He was studying to be an oceanographer. At this time, Mrs. Teal moved to Alaska to start a new life.
In 1973 she adopted her daughter Rosebud Sue Petra Thiel, granddaughter of Athabascan Chief Simon Francis. They made their home in their log cabin Mrs. Teal had built on the corner of 7th and Kellum in Fairbanks. In 1981, she adopted her daughter Blossom Juliana Teal after meeting Blossom’s great-aunt Alvira Downey on a trip to Kotzebue.
In 1983 Mrs. Teal sued the State of Alaska for the right to adopt her daughters and won, but in the process she lost her home on Kellum. This didn’t stop her from creating a home for her girls.
During this time, she earned her badge as a police officer for the City of Kotzebue, and in the late 1980s, early 1990s Mrs. Teal became a corrections officer in Fairbanks. She loved this profession and excelled at it. As a corrections officer, she pushed for more art programs and extended the Fairbanks Correctional Center’s book program. Reading was always important to Mrs. Teal.
Mrs. Teal was an audacious soul filled with stories and laughter. In 1993 she adopted her grandson Joseph James Martinez. She loved him dearly. She often said while people lived one life, she found herself in many because that’s what you do rather than give up, “Sometimes you have to start life over.” Sadly, her last son, Bryan Brinton was killed in 1994 when his truck ran over a mine in Bosnia. A photojournalist, he was photographing the effects of the war.
In 1997 Mrs. Teal moved from Kotzebue to Sitka. This was supposed to be a short-term move while her daughter Blossom attended Mt. Edgecumbe High School but she fell in love with the rainforest. This is where she raised her grandson.
During her life, Mrs. Teal touched many lives. She believed in tenacity and had true grit. She was an avid reader, a fluent speaker in German, French, Latin, Gwitch’n Athabascan, and Inupiaq.
Mrs. Teal believed in asking questions and held many intriguing conversations with anyone who wanted to talk or with anyone who was good at listening. Mrs. Teal believed in giving and the power of God’s love. Above all, she believed in a good walk.
Mrs. Elizabeth “Bette” Teal leaves behind her daughter Rosebud Sanchez (husband Johnny Sanchez) of Long Beaqch, California, and grandsons Joseph James Martinez of Sitka and Marcel Thiel, and Johntae Sanchez, of Long Beach; daughter Blossom Twitchell (fiancé Frederick Olsen Jr.), and grandson Allistair Twitchell, and granddaughters Teslin and Lucca Bea Twitchell, all of Sitka.
“Our Mother and Grandmother joined her beloved sons Jim, Dorian and Bryan Brinton; her loving husband Col. Wilmer Bryant Brinton; her mother Ethel and father Albert; her 12 siblings; and the faithful family dog Miki MacKenzie Teal,” her family said.
On behalf of Mrs. Teal, her family thanked the staff of SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital and Sitka EMS for providing exemplary medical service to her throughout the years.
A memorial service will be held 5 p.m. August 7 at St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests letters be written to an inmate.

Jetta L. Budd

    Jetta Budd, a Sitka resident since 1989, passed away Aug. 29, 2019, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, with her family by her side. She was 72.
    She was born March 16, 1947, in Pueblo, Colorado, the daughter of George and Darlene Klein. She had three siblings: Rick, Mick and Valeena.
    She graduated from Centennial High School in Pueblo, and in 1969 received a bachelor’s degree in education from Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado, Her majors were English and elementary education.
    Two days after graduating from Adams she married Tom Budd, and they both took teaching jobs in Hoonah. They lived there for 20 years. She loved her students, and had many fond memories of their years there. She liked picnics and occasional skiff rides in the spring and summer to Neka Bay, Glacier Bay and Tenakee.
    In 1989, she retired from Hoonah Public Schools, and the family moved to Sitka. She continued to work in education here for the next 17 years, in various capacities, although not as a teacher. She worked for both Sitka School District and Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
    She loved to travel and experience various cultures and cuisines. Her passport over the years accumulated stamps from 48 countries on six continents.
    She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Tom Budd, Sitka; daughter Brindle Summers of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren Azure and McKinley Summers and Sierra and Sterling Seal, all of San Antonio; her mother, Darlene of Pueblo; brothers Rick and his wife Marilyn in Florissant, Missouri, and Mike and his wife Lois of Grand Island, Nebraska; and sister Valeena and her husband Harry Hollifield, Pueblo.
    Jetta will be missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to SAFV.
   

Frank Leo Miles

Frank Leo Miles, of Sitka, passed away December 8, 2019, surrounded by the love of his family. He was 81.
He was born in Tacoma, Washington, to Walter and Idamae Miles and raised in Auburn. He graduated from the University of Washington in civil engineering in 1960 and received his masters in civil engineering there in 1961.
He married Jeanie Rey in 1961 and they raised their two children, Lisa and Walt, at Lake Tapps. Frank taught his family to enjoy the things he loved –water skiing, snow skiing at Crystal and Sun Valley and snorkeling and scuba diving in Maui. He was the original president of the green flash club.
Frank had been planning on teaching engineering at UW, but the untimely death of his father, Walt, took him back to Auburn to help his mom run the family sand and gravel business. Little did he know how fast the company would grow. He started with six employees including himself and his mother and the business has now grown into one of the largest construction materials producers in the area.
Boats and fishing were Frank’s passions. In his younger days he raced outboard engine boats. He explored the San Juan Islands and farther north until finally venturing to Alaska where he and Jeanie made their home.
He enjoyed fishing in both Costa Rica and in Alaska. If you had a chance to fish with Frank you were lucky. He loved entertaining family, friends, customers and employees.
He is survived by his wife Jeanie; children Lisa (Tim) Kittilsby and Walt (Julie Girard) Miles; and his cherished grandchildren Jeff, Joe, Matt and Scott Miles, Parker and Eric Kittilsby, Emily and Olivia Girard and Lauren and Bryan O’Dell; two great-grandsons, Brayden and Hudson O’Dell; sisters Patty (Bill) DeGroodt, Alice Erickson and Edi (Paul) Woll; step-siblings Ellen (Charles) Harley, Margaret (Bruce) Ennis, and Jim (Jackie) Schack; and his 101-year-old mother, Idamae Schack.
A celebration of life for Frank was held December 14 at the UW Don James Center, in Seattle. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Frank and Jean Miles Endowed Football Scholarship (by calling the University of Washington Tyee Club at 206-543-2234) or to a charity of your choice.

Ruthanna Miller

Former Sitkan Ruthanna Miller, fondly known as Ruth, died unexpectedly on Friday, January 17, 2020, in Anacortes, Washington. She was 66.
She was born February 16, 1953, in Sacramento, California, the daughter of James and Betty (Collins) Miller. Her dad was a Salvation Army minister, and was stationed in Spokane in 1957, then in Southeast Alaska in 1961, first to Kake, in 1963 to Hoonah, and to Sitka in 1966. She graduated from Sitka High in 1970.
In the early 1970s, Ruth moved to Tampa, Florida, where she met her husband Sam and her daughter was born.  In 1977 she and her family moved back to Sitka, where her son was born.
She moved to Spokane in the early 1980s,  and in 1995 she and her children moved to Bellingham, Washington, where she worked as an office manager for the city, then became the pastoral assistant for administration at Sacred Heart Church.  She was pastoral assistant for administration with St. Mary Church in Anacortes for the past three years.
Ruth enjoyed a lot of things in life, but none were more important to her than her family, her faith, and her community.
Ruth valued little else above her relationship with her family, and she was eagerly planning her retirement in Spokane where her children and their families lived. If she hadn’t heard from her children in a while, she would send them messages, simply to let them know that she loved and missed them.
She loved to spend time with her four granddaughters, and showing off photos of her friends and her.  (Ruth would tell you that it never felt right not having a kitty.) She loved to tell her grandchildren stories of her days growing up in Sitka, and she shared a passion for music with her youngest granddaughter, Vita.
She loved music and loved to sing.  She truly had a gift, and was able to create her own harmonies, often getting them stuck in her head, so she would just have to record them on her phone. 
She gave the best hugs and made sure to never leave without telling you she loved you. She was a wonderful cook, and luckily for her family she loved to cook. Christmas won’t be the same without her quiche, her family said. She had recipes torn out from magazines and written on slips of paper all over her home, tucked inside her journals, which typically had only a page or two filled in and then sticky notes and little slips of paper stuck to them or inside them.
She enjoyed the antics of her step-grandsons Liam and Ronan as well.  She loved them and was proud to see them grow into men.
    Her work in the church and her faith in God were so important to Ruth and something she was so proud of. She found her work with the church to be rewarding and fulfilling.
Ruth was always available to listen to what weighed on other people’s minds, and was an empathetic listener, ready to share in their burdens with them. She had a gift of making everyone feel like they mattered and that they were heard.  Her children were the only ones who knew how deeply things weighed on Ruth’s heart.  She had a servant’s heart and sought to spread love, joy, and song wherever she could.
    Ruth lived all over the country, and although Washington was her home for many years, a piece of her heart remained in Sitka.
Sitka is also where her introduction to the Catholic faith began through the guiding hand of her friend Gloria.  While young, living in Southeast, Ruth and her family were adopted into the Tlingit tribe, where Ruth gained the Raven as her clan animal.  Because of her connection to the tribe in Alaska, Ruth always felt deeply connected to the Native community, and found comfort and family in their ranks.  Although Sitka was treasured in Ruth’s heart, she loved the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and all the people she met here.
Ruth is survived by her children and their spouses, Adam (Stephanie) Thurston and Shannon (David Dempsey), both of Spokane; grandchildren Chloe, Avery, Remi and Vita; step-grandchildren Liam and Ronan; siblings and their spouses, Andy (Judith) Miller of Edmonds, Washington, Philip Miller of Kingston, Washington, Colleen Miller of Bellingham, and Naomi Miller of Sitka; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her funeral service will be held at St. Mary Church in Anacortes, with  Rosary Vigil and Sharing of Memories 6 p.m. Friday, January 24. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 25, followed by a reception at the Father Auer Center.
To share memories of Ruth, sign the online guestbook at https://www.evanschapel.com.

Michael Harry Helmrich

Michael Harry Helmrich, of Doniphan, Missouri, died March 31, one month after a diagnosis of a fast-moving cancer.

The former Sitka resident was 69.

Mike was born July 16, 1950, in Amite, Louisiana, the son of Harry Herman Helmrich and Yvonne Cora Helmrich. He was preceded in death by his father and mother.

Those left to mourn his passing include his beloved wife, Jackie Nigro Helmrich; his brother, Mark Helmrich; Aunt Joyce Perrin; and Jackie’s cousins, Diana Lea Jones and Janine Jones.

Mike attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in business.

In 1987, Mike met his wife, Jackie, in Sacramento, California, and together they lived a life of adventure for 35 years, with Mike leading the way with his unending love for the land, woods, and waters. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Mike and Jackie were musicians, with Jackie singing and Mike playing guitar and also singing with his beautiful voice. He was the musical director for their music. Because of the music, they traveled to Alaska for a gig, and once there fell in love with Sitka, where they settled from 1998 to 2012. Mike lived his Alaska dream, hunting and fishing in the Alaska Wilderness.

Mike and Jackie continued to play music full time in Sitka, and in addition Mike became a boat captain doing fishing charters in the summer.

In 2016 Mike felt the pull to get back to his Southern roots, and he and Jackie moved to Missouri. There they fell in love with their new home, which provided enough land for Mike to be able to enjoy hunting on his own property.

Those who knew Mike knew that “what you see is what you get.” He was always true to himself and had a great sense of humor with a positive approach at life, his family said. He always had a smile and kind word for everyone.

“He will be missed by so many friends and family,” the family wrote. “Mike will be loved forever and never forgotten by his wife, Jackie.”