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.

Kyle Chambers Fulton

Kyle Chambers Fulton, a longtime Sitka resident, passed away on July 6, 2020. She was 68 years old.

Kyle was born September 4, 1952, in Sylmar, California, to Colin and Betty Chambers, and was raised alongside her three brothers, Kerry, Colin and Scott.

She was irresistibly drawn to the natural beauty of the last frontier and moved to Alaska in 1973. Her hardiness of spirit carried her through many demanding jobs and ports in the commercial fishing industry, including Kodiak, Craig and Sitka. Kyle’s tenacity kept her on the water, even after surviving the sinking of two fishing vessels.

Kyle was known among many for her kindness, resiliency, passion and boldness.

“She had a kind of balance, it seemed,” wrote Cathy Cuenin, a longtime friend, “with grace under stress and a sense of adventure.”

As a young woman, that sense of adventure led her around the world, to Scotland, Mexico and Costa Rica, among others. In 1993, it led her yet again, this time along the path of motherhood when she adopted her daughter, Kaitlin. 

Too often in life, the light that burns brightest is the light that burns shortest. A few years after the adoption of her daughter, Kyle began to feel the symptoms of Huntington’s Disease, a genetic neurological illness. True to her nature, she did not let her diagnosis define her, but chose to live life the fullest in spite of it. Her wit, compassion for others, and courage never faltered, and she has left an impression upon the hearts of many that will not easily be forgotten.

Kyle was preceded in death by her parents, Colin and Betty Chambers, and her brothers, Kerry, Colin and Scott. 

She is survived by her daughter Kaitlin Humphrey; sister-by-heart Judi Bixby; the father of her child, Timothy Fulton; nephews Lucas and Sebastian Chambers; niece Maya Chambers; and countless time-honored friends who are as closely regarded as family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing services, education, advocacy and research to those affected by Huntington’s Disease and their families.

Denise Louise Massey

Denise Louise Massey, a 1974 Sitka High graduate, passed away at home, July 9, 2020, in Bothell, Washington. She was 64.

Denise was born in Juneau March 11, 1956, the daughter of Dr. Walter Massey and Dolores Ingwersen.

Denise attended and graduated from Sitka High School in 1974. She graduated from Arizona State University in 1979,  with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. 

She was a property appraiser for her entire working career, and was with such companies as Bank of America. Denise had a reputation as a very accomplished appraiser, and was often given the most difficult assignments. At the time of her death, she was self-employed as an appraiser.

Denise attended modeling school in her high school years and modeled clothes for Sitka businesses. She participated in the Miss Sitka pageant in 1973. 

Denise lived in Bothell, Washington, for the last 35 years.

She was preceded in death by her father, mother, and sister Kathleen Jo Shupe. 

She is survived by her brother Brian Massey of Sitka, sister Pamela Massey of Seattle, sister Lori Massey of Fredericksburg, Virginia, niece Allison Massey of Sitka, niece Angela Wissmar of Seattle, nephew Walter Massey of Colorado Springs, and nephew Ryan Wissmar of Seattle. Extended family includes Ernestine Massey and Bob Peel of Sitka. 

Memorial service details will be announced at a later date. 

Robert Erick Fehlberg

Robert Erick Fehlberg, the cornerstone of his family, passed away at age 93 on August 17, 2019, after living three years at Mocho Park Care Center in Livermore, California.

He was actively drawing plans, sketching and writing historical notes about the family, still attending social events with family out and about. He was Lutheran in faith. The family gathered at the family home in Pleasanton, California, for a day of remembrance. 

Robert was born in Kalispell, Montana, April 28, 1926, to Mary Grace Fehlberg and Otto Albert Erick Fehlberg.  He was reared in the family home in Coram, Montana, where the family business was a grocery store/gas station and tourist cabins built by Otto along the main road to Glacier National Park.

When Robert was 10, his sister Marilyn was born. Robert attended grade school in Coram and rode the school bus to attend high school in Columbia Falls. As a basketball player, he boarded at the school dorm during the week for basketball season.  He worked summers in Glacier Park on trail crews and after high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he earned the rank of T.4 technical sergeant.

After the war Robert was chosen to escort German prisoners held in the U.S. on a ship leaving California through the Panama Canal to England where they were returned to Germany.  The return trip brought United States service men held as prisoners back to the United States.

After his military discharge, Robert enrolled at the University of Montana in Missoula, majoring in forestry based on his experiences in Glacier Park. 

He soon found his main interest was in architecture and transferred to Montana State College in Bozeman, now Montana State University. He became an active member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and made lifelong friends who called him Fehl.  

Upon graduating in architecture, Fehl was hired in the structural documents department of Hungry Horse Dam.  A year later he joined the Gehres Weed Architects firm in Kalispell.  He met LaDonna Rognlie through a mutual friend. During their engagement year, Fehl designed and built a house for them near Woodland Park in Kalispell, teaching LaDonna to cut and nail sheathing boards for the walls and the roofing.  They were married in 1953. In 1956 Fehl opened his own office in Kalispell. In 1958, he was called by Cushing Terrell Associates, a Billings architectural firm, to join them as designer. He became a partner in the firm with his design career expanding throughout Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska. Fehl earned his pilot license and flew the CTA Cessna for office projects, some recreation and family trips.  

Fehl, a man of many skills and talents, designed a broad scope of buildings. His educational projects include preschools, high school and college campuses with associated libraries, theaters and sports facilities. The plans for churches, commercial buildings, government facilities and custom homes were also created on his drawing board. He often incorporated site-specific artworks by Montana artists in the buildings he designed.     

Their daughter Kolby was born in Kalispell. The family became complete with Kenje, Kurt and Klee born in Billings. Their lives centered around architecture and the arts.  Kolby learned her architectural drafting skills from Fehl.   They all learned to ski with Fehl’s guidance and make ceramics on the family’s potter’s wheel.

Kurt followed Fehl into architecture and remembers sitting on Fehl’s lap as a child learning the basics of making clay pottery. Kenje’s happy memories of skiing at Red Lodge Mountain with her dad are with her whenever and wherever she enjoys the skills she learned from him. Klee found the trips he took with the family in the United States whetted his appetite to travel in other countries.

A sense of humor came naturally, playful mischief in a loving family. His grandchildren added another dimension of joy. They also had an appreciation of the talents people have to offer. This extended to volunteering in community. 

Fehl and LaDonna were active members of The Montana Institute of the Arts and The Flathead Camera Club in Kalispell.  They moved to Billings and already knew many of the artists in the Billings Arts Association. When Mayor Willard Fraser and Virginia Snook asked Fehl to evaluate the possibility of remodeling the vacant County Jail into an art center, he readily agreed and recognized all its possibilities.  They asked James Haughey, as a lawyer and an artist, to join them.  With representatives from every cultural organization in the city, they approached the County Commissioners. With Fehl’s plans considered the Commissioners gave them the go-ahead. Volunteers from every walk of life in the county offered their skills and ambition to fulfill the renovation of the county jail to the Yellowstone Art Center, now known as the Yellowstone Art Museum. Fehl directed the project from the CTA office daytime, worked on-site every evening and every weekend until the Art Center had its grand opening.

He served terms on the Art Center Board of Directors and represented MAC on the County Commissioners board.  He consulted on the surfacing art centers that followed, Carbon County Art Center in Miles City, Lewistown Art Center and several others. 

Fehl served as president of most of the organizations he enjoyed including the Montana Chapter of AIA.  He was elected to serve on The American Institute of Architects Board of Directors as Northwest Regional Director for a four-year term.  His region included Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, Washington, Guam, Wyoming and Montana. He visited the AIA chapters in these states each year and connected them to the National AIA Board and the National Board with them.   The Montana State University Architectural Department responded and benefitted from having his direct connection to the AIA National Board.  Fehl was named a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects. 

Fehl received the Fellow award in the Montana Institute of the Arts. He and

LaDonna received the Montana Governor’s Award for the Arts as a couple. One of his photographs was selected for the MIA Permanent Art Collection now housed at the University of Montana, Missoula.    

Fehl retired from CTA in 1987 and he and LaDonna moved to Pleasanton, California, to be near family.   He continued to be a liaison architect for CTA on-site designing the high school in Green River, Wyoming.   He also had CTA projects in Sitka, AK.   where he developed his own firm and continued his architectural practice for 15 years there and more in Pleasanton.   

 Architecture was his lifetime dedication. Robert’s family was his treasure.  The friendships he made along the way are indelible.

Robert was predeceased by his parents Otto and Mary Grace Fehlberg and his sister, Marilyn Fleming.  Surviving Robert are his wife, LaDonna; children, Kolby Fehlberg-Burns (James); Kenje Fehlberg; Kurt Fehlberg (Lauri); Klee Fehlberg (Linda Tam) and grandchildren Acacia Burns Camacho, Echelle Burns; Kelcey Dixon, Keanon Dixon; and Keil Tam Fehlberg.  Also surviving Robert are his brother-in-law Robert Fleming, niece Heidi Coatsworth, nephews James Fleming and Michael Fleming.

In memory of Robert Fehlberg, donations may be made to the Sitka Lutheran Church.

From left are Theresa Renee VanVeen, Matthew Moon Davis and Richard (Matt) Davis. (Photo provided to the Sentinel)

A beloved mother, partner, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, and friend, Theresa Renee VanVeen left this world unexpectedly on July 8, 2020, from complications arising from a severe asthma attack. She was 28 years young.

Theresa was born on June 14, 1992, in Sitka to Eric VanVeen and Catherine VanVeen. She graduated from Sitka High School and lived briefly in Anchorage, Juneau, and New Mexico where she met her love, Matt Davis. Their son, Matthew Moon, was born July 2017 and will be turning 3 years old at the end of the month. 

Theresa was a compassionate and honest individual with a keen business sense. She loved traveling, making memories with family and friends, and working as CFO for the family business, VanGreen’s Cannabis. Above all things, Theresa loved being a mother and loved her family. She loved fiercely and with everything that she was. Nothing made her happier than spending time with the ones she cared about. 

Theresa will be remembered for her warm hugs, bright smile, infectious laugh, and her big brown eyes that could see straight into your soul. She was a dreamer, a feeler, gentle and kind, yet ferociously protective of those she loved. 

She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Patrick Bean Sr.

Theresa is survived by her son Matthew Davis, partner Richard (Matt) Davis, mother Catherine VanVeen, father Eric VanVeen, sister Aaryn VanVeen, grandmothers Brenda Bean and Betty VanVeen, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins from the Bean, VanVeen, and Puletau-Lang families. 

She is deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

An outdoor celebration of life will be held 1-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, on the Sitka Fine Arts Camp lawn. Drinks will be provided. Due to COVID concerns around sharing food buffet-style, Ashmo’s food truck (one of Theresa’s favorites!) will be on location for those who would like to purchase food; 50% of all food sales is being generously donated to Matthew Moon’s future fund account at ALPS Federal Credit Union. 

Dorothy Parrish

Dorothy Parrish, longtime Sitka resident, passed away peacefully in Swedish Hospital, Edmonds, Washington, of natural causes on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.  Her son Dennis Parrish and his wife Debra were by her side.

She was 94.

Dorothy and her husband, Jack, were the owners of the Random House and Flowers by Dorothy in downtown Sitka for 42 years.

Dorothy was born on Dec. 17, 1925, in Yakima, Washington, one of two daughters of George and Alta Engelman. She was raised in Wapato, Washington, by her mother and stepfather, where she met her husband, Jack.

In 1946 she traveled to Wrangell, where she married Jack who had moved there to work at his sister’s restaurant.  It was in Wrangell that their son Dennis was born.

A year later, Dorothy, Jack and Dennis moved to Petersburg where they lived for four years before moving to Craig, and then subsequently to Sitka where Jack worked for Standard Oil Co. for several years and Dorothy worked for Clarence and Hope Rands, the original owners of the Random House. Dorothy was a retail clerk and florist for the Rands for a number of years before she and Jack bought the business, in the early 1960s. They owned and operated the business until 2004.

Dorothy loved Sitka and lived here until 2008, a little over a year after her husband Jack passed away. She had many fond memories of her many friends and adventures in Sitka and was a longtime member of the Eastern Star.  

She and her dog Checkers spent many hours walking through Totem Park and downtown Sitka where Checkers also formed many friendships. In 2008, she and Checkers moved to Woodway, Washington, to be with her son and daughter-in-law Deby. She lived there until her passing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Sandy, and niece Lana.

Dorothy is survived by her son, Dennis, daughter-in-law Deby; granddaughters Nicole and her husband Matt of Gig Harbor, Washington, and Katy and Tony Hartellius of Cle Elum, Washington; four great-grandchildren,  Channer, Jayce, Brecken and Charlotte; and nephews Barry Hogreffe of Bothell, Washington, Vernon LaBay of Ellensburg, Washington, and Randy Evans, of Scottsdale, Arizona. 

She is also survived by her extended “family” George and Vicki Baggen and their children and her friend Barbara Hames, Sitka.

Gilbert Allen Truitt

Gilbert Allen Truitt, who chronicled and helped shape the history of Sitka throughout his life, died July 10 at Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center following hip surgery. He was 93.

Gil was born in Sitka June 2, 1927, the son of Dorothy James and Joseph Truitt. He grew up in the Cottages settlement, the Christian Native community on Presbyterian mission land, on Kelly and Metlakatla streets.

His maternal great-grandmother, Amelia Cameron, was one of the Sloan sisters, Kiks.ádi Point House women who were matriarchs of Cottages families. His grandparents, Albert and Paulina James, were graduates of the mission school, as was his mother, Dorothy James Truitt.

The community was battered by untimely death. Tuberculosis and other diseases hit Native communities hard, a consequence of pervasive bias. Every family lost children or parents. Gil Truitt’s mother lost her siblings, and her mother died young. By the time Gil was born, most of the families of the Cottages were struggling. His father died in a boating accident north of Sitka that also claimed two brothers-in-law and an uncle. In one of his columns he wrote for the Sentinel, “Gilnettings,” he said that after his father’s death, the children – he was the oldest at age 8 – did the chores, gathering food, chopping firewood, packing fresh water home, keeping the household running.

Gil’s first of many jobs was finding gallon jugs for Art “Dutchie” Silverman. He also worked for Clarence Rands; cut up and sold halibut cheeks; was a pinsetter for the Neill Andersen bowling alley; cleaned the SJ gym after games in exchange for season tickets.

His mother died in 1943, when he was 15, and the siblings were split up to live with other families.

Gil attended the BIA elementary school on Katlian, and SJ School, then wanted to attend the BIA school in Wrangell but didn’t have money for transportation. SJ charged tuition, but he was recruited by Miss Kuykendall, the boys matron, and spent a year there, working for Peter Simpson in exchange for his tuition. He still wanted to go to Wrangell because he felt there were more students there like himself, who had been orphaned. He made it the next year and found out years later that his steamship fare had been paid by local businessman Art Franklin.

In February 1947, Mt. Edgecumbe High School opened in the former Navy facilities on Japonski Island, replacing Wrangell Institute and the BIA school at Eklutna. Gil Truitt was one of the first students to arrive and was always proud of the fact he was in the first graduating class – his email handle was originalbrave48.

He went on to Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, getting a bachelor of arts degree in 1957, and later earned a master of arts in education from Arizona State University in 1972.

He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Juneau and Ft. Richardson. He married Shirley Guilford May 26, 1962, at the Sitka Presbyterian Church.

He had returned to Mt. Edgecumbe in 1957, where he taught history and physical education, was basketball coach, activities/academic director and administrator until retiring in 1990.

Gil Truitt overcame a difficult childhood with grace, dignity and gratitude, and made important contributions to Alaska. These included researching and discovering that the deed for the former BIA school property on Katlian Street could go to the City of Sitka only as long as it was used for Native education. The property was duly transferred to the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and now it’s the site of the Sheet’ká Ḵwáan Naa Kahídi community house.

His compilation of a map of the Sitka Indian Village 1920-1945 was another major achievement. Working with Herb Didrickson, Buddy Widmark, Ellen Hope Hayes, Bill Brady and Ray Perkins, with Charlie Joseph and Esther Littlefield, he made a map identifying the nearly 300 residential and clan houses in the Sitka Indian Village.

After the Bureau of Indian Affairs closed Mt. Edgecumbe High School in 1983, Gil played a major role in getting it reopened, lobbying the Congressional delegation, governor, legislators, education boards and other elected officials and helping with a letter-writing campaign he credited former MEHS teacher Cathy Sutton with leading.

Gil Truitt tirelessly documented and shared the history of Sitka, especially basketball, never failing to give credit to those who contributed to education and community. He told how within an hour of arriving in Sitka from Wrangell, Sitka teams were inviting them to play, and how the ANB team loaned them uniforms and a ball. He documented genealogy of the Cottages and shared the “good times,” the musical talent and sense of community.

He led a successful campaign to induct Herb Didrickson into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. Didrickson had turned down offers to play pro, and so his unbelievable talent had to be documented in alternative ways.

Gil Truitt did the trimming and artwork for the MEHS framed class photos, starting with his own graduating class. In the mid 1960s, a superintendent decided students were spending too much time looking at the pictures and had them all taken to the dump. Gil Truitt and a friend retrieved them from the dump and repaired the glass and frames; the pictures are now on view in the appropriately-named Gil Truitt Activities Center on the MEHS campus.

The naming of the center was only one of many honors the school bestowed on “Mr. Edgecumbe.”

“Gil Truitt’s contributions of thousands of hours, countless weekends and endless fundraising efforts earned him accolades on many fronts,” said Bernie Gurule, the current academic principal.

“One he was most proud of and mentioned often was that the Mt. Edgecumbe students honored him with a total of five MEHS Yearbook (TAHETA) dedications in 1961, 1966, 1972, 1975 and in 1990,” Gurule said. “He was also the first student athlete to be inducted into the Mt. Edgecumbe Hall of Fame.”

Truitt was also involved in youth baseball as a coach/manager for many years and was a basketball referee for 18 years. As an active participant in civic affairs, especially involving education, Truitt was instrumental in the creation of the Mt. Edgecumbe Advisory School Board.

He received an honorary doctor of law degree from the University of Alaska-Anchorage, a Meritorious Award from the University of Alaska Southeast, and a citation and commendation from the Alaska Legislature, and a Sitka street is named after him.

The Alaska School Activities Association inducted Gil into the very first cohort to be honored as members of the prestigious ASAA Hall of Fame, in 2001. In 2009, the Alaska Federation of Natives named him “Elder of the Year.” And in 2018, the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska presented him with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

For several years, Gil wrote his column, “Gilnettings” for the Sentinel, in which he recounted stories, illustrated by photos, about the Sitka he’d known since the early 1930s, the places, individuals, sports and historical events. His last one appeared May 20. The autobiographical column, “A Sitka Story: Widow and Her 7 Children,” ran March 20.

Gil’s influence on MEHS runs deep, Gurule said.

“Routinely, MEHS alumni come on campus to visit their children and grandchildren. One of the first questions they ask is ‘How is Gil Truitt?’” Gurule said. “Stories often follow of how he instilled in them the values of high standards and high expectations in the classroom, in the dorms and on the playing courts. Many stories carried the same theme: when I was a junior or a freshman... Mr. Truitt did not give me a break when I earned demerit points. He never allowed me to make excuses for my behaviors, he never accepted my hardship alibis, he never accepted my academic weaknesses as reason for failure in my studies. Instead he disciplined us appropriately without making it personal. He encouraged us to accept our challenges with more dedication and hard work. He convinced us Mt. Edgecumbe High School is a special place and we were encouraged to make our families proud in everything we do. We are a family here, too. We are the Mt. Edgecumbe FAMILY.”

Even as recently as this year, Gurule said, “when we informed Mr. Truitt of the recent alumni visitors, his recall of the specific person was unbelievable. He could recite personal details about the student and the brother and sisters who also were students at MEHS at one time or another. With pride he could inform us of their accomplishments later in life. He was aware and spoke with paternal admiration of the leadership roles they assumed at the local, state and even national levels. This little example may serve as an indication of the true relationships he had with his students and their families.”

In February 2019, Mt. Edgecumbe High School designated Thursday of Founders Week as “Mr. Gil Truitt Day.”

Gil was preceded in death by his parents and eight siblings.

He is survived by his wife Shirley Ellen Truitt, Sitka; his children and their spouses, Phil and Eileen Truitt of Snoqualmie, Washington, Ken and Charlotte Truitt of Juneau and Laura Truitt of Vancouver, Washington; grandchildren Kristina and Clay Ercolin of Stanwood, Washington, Joseph and Alexis Truitt of Newberg, Oregon, Natalya Truitt of Snowqualmie, and Madison, Marissa, Sydney and Elena Truitt all of Juneau.

The family requests no flowers at this time and suggests donations to these organizations, which either supported Gil throughout his life or Gil supported throughout his life: the Sitka Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood, Sitka Lions Club, Sitka Elks Lodge, Sitka Moose Lodge, Sitka American Legion, Sitka Fine Arts Camp, and the Salvation Army.

Because of COVID restrictions, a small private graveside service was held. Public services will be scheduled when it is safe for travel and large gatherings. 

Family members expressed thanks to all those in the Tribal health system who cared for him in his final days – too many to list for fear of omitting some, they said. They also thanked the many friends who supported both their parents personally these last few years.

In addition, they recognized two important communities: the Mt. Edgecumbe High School students, staff, and alumni past and present, and the entire community of Sitka. Both have provided the family overwhelming support since Gil’s passing, they said, and both communities had his entire devotion.

Scott E. Stahla

Former Sitkan Scott E. Stahla of Smithfield, Nebraska, died of cancer   on Friday, July 17, 2020, at Emerald Nursing and Rehab in Cozad, surrounded by his family. He was 51.

Scott was born May 29, 1969, at Kimball, Nebraska, to Edward A. and Kathy (Schwindt) Stahla. His family lived in Ketchikan at the time and had returned to Kimball for the funeral of Ed’s dad. After Scott’s birth they returned to Ketchikan.

In 1977, the family moved to Sitka, and Scott received his education from Sitka Public Schools, graduating from Sitka High in 1987.

Growing up in Sitka had its fair share of outdoor activities. Scott, spent his earlier years driving ATVs and boats, and harvesting some of Alaska’s natural resources. Once he graduated from high school Scott was falling timber, setting chokers, and hauling wood during remote logging operations in Southeast Alaska. 

The shipping industry wrapped up the majority of his final years in Alaska. He skillfully used cranes in all weather conditions to unload and load barges on the Bering Sea. After the adventures in the last frontier came to an end, Scott worked in Idaho building a home and then settled near Lexington to live closer to his parents, Ed and Kathy Stahla.

While living in the Lexington area, Scott worked for Todd Booth, remodeling homes and running machinery. Scott was a hard worker and took great pride in his craft and tools.

Scott leaves to celebrate his life his parents, Ed and Kathy of Smithfield; his children, Marissa C. (Derek) Fairbanks of Winston, Oregon, and Erik A. Stahla of Springfield, Oregon; two grandchildren, Carmen R. and Colin L. Fairbanks of Winston; a sister, Pamela Stahla (Michael) Kernin of Sitka; niece, Nichel Kernin (Chance) Allen of Unalaska; nephew, Alex Kernin of Sitka; and a great-nephew, Parker Allen of Unalaska.

Also surviving are aunts and uncles, Ron (Connie) Schwindt of Mesa, Arizona, Ron (Mary) Stahla of Lexington, Byron (Jeanne) Stahla of Plano, Texas, and Betty Kibby of Durango, Colorado; his dog, Romeo; and cousins, extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Carl and Henrietta Schwindt and August and Sarah Stahla; his uncle, Jim Schwindt; aunt, Charlotte Schwindt; and cousin, Nicki Schwindt.

A celebration of life service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, July 24, at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington with Rock Stahla, a cousin, officiating. The service will be live streamed via the Reynolds Love Facebook page.

There will be no visitation, as the family is honoring Scott’s wish for cremation. Burial will be held at a later date.

A memorial has been established in Scott’s honor, and kindly suggested to go to the Dawson County Relay For Life.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at reynoldslovefunerahome.com.

Elinora H. Brandner 

Former Sitkan Elinora H. Brandner, 104, of Medford, Wisconsin, died July 21 at Country Gardens Assisted Living, Medford, where she had resided for the past 11 years, most recently under the care of Hope Hospice.

Memorial services will take place at 1 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, Medford, with Rev. James Krueger officiating. Interment of her cremated remains will be in Medford Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from noon until the time of services at 1 p.m.

Elinora was born on May 10, 1916, the daughter of the late John Jakob and Alma Marie (Schoenfeldt) Frey. She attended Frey School in the Town of Browning, was a graduate of Medford High School, and a 1935 graduate of Taylor County Normal School, Medford. Her marriage to Herbert Julius Brandner took place on February 22, 1941, in Independence, Wisconsin.

Herb was called into service in 1943, and for the next three years they lived in California, Kansas and Texas. They returned to Wisconsin in 1946 and their son Dale was born in 1951. In 1953 the family moved west to Bellingham, Washington.

In 1957 they moved to Ketchikan, and in 1959 they settled in Sitka. Elinora worked at National Bank of Alaska and First National Bank Alaska for 14 years, retiring in 1974.

The Brandners moved to Bellingham in 1979 and spent the next 20 years traveling all over the U.S., Canada, and Mexico with friends and family. They would often return to Medford during the summers. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1999 and finally returned to Medford in 2009, settling into Country Gardens shortly after that. Elinora loved to travel in her motorhome with her husband, Herb. She was always very active in local clubs and volunteering. Elinora loved going into the Medford area schools to spend time with children. She was a member of Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church of Medford.

She is survived by grandchildren Tara (Col. William) Gibson of Fairfax, Virginia, and Jared (Douglas Williams) Brandner of Anchorage; and three great-grandchildren, Taylor, Ty and Lucy Gibson.

Elinora was extremely lucky to have many nieces and nephews, who always made the time to be involved in her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband (on Nov. 12, 2015), son, Dale Gordon Brandner in 2018; siblings Viola Clausnitzer, Oscar, Hilbert, John and Ralph Frey.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, Medford in her name. Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake serving the family. For online condolences, please visit hemerfuneralservice.com.

Kevin C. ''Craig'' Keener

“Like a fast-flittering meteor, a fast flying cloud, a flash of the lightning, a break of the wave, he passes from life to his rest in the grave.” (By Wm. Knox) 

Kevin C. “Craig” Keener (aka Kevin Lee Vilandre) passed away in his sleep May 26, 2020, at age 64 in Lynnwood, Washington.

He was born in Sedro Woolley, Washington, the son of Grover Lee “Red” Keener and Dorothy Ray Sherrill. At the time, his dad owned and operated a logging operation. He had two older sisters, Sherrill Lee “Sheri” and Kathleen Ray “Kathy”. Their mother passed away when Craig was 7. The family moved to Sitka after his dad accepted a job as a diesel mechanic and heavy equipment operator.

In 1966 his dad married Mabel (Cropley) and voila! Craig had a stepfamily. Craig grew close to Mabel and her children Abby and Wally.

“Our parents later divorced but our relationships were lifelong,” Abby said. “My childhood memories are filled with the antics of Craig and my brother Wally. Pretending to play the guitar in front of the window facing (Mabel’s) Drive In – rock & roll (usually The Rolling Stones or The Doors) blasting loudly in the background – race cars set up in the entire living room; card games, poker games, chess, darts, BB guns and bows & arrows flying through the house when adults weren’t around,” Abby said.

“Once I accidentally hit my brother in the butt with a dart and Craig was the calm in the storm, protecting me as usual. Shenanigans, boy oh boy, those boys were something else! Breaking into the Drive In to cook burgers at night, feeding the neighborhood kids burgers and fries; eating all the food in the freezers when mom and Red were gone – finding out later that all that yummy precooked food was for an American Legion tournament so Mom had to start cooking like a madwoman because we had fed everybody in the neighborhood and made it all disappear. It was lucky for us that Craig was in on that with us, because with mom, he could pretty much do no wrong. I know he was mom’s favorite,” Abby said with a pout and a laugh. 

Craig graduated from Sitka High in 1974. He was active in the Honor Society, track team and basketball team and was on the Student Council. He studied mathematics at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka; electrical engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks; and electronics at Washington Technical Institute; and attended the University of Colorado.

Craig was a wanderer, an adventurer, a speculator, an inventor and an explorer. He was interested in sports, politics, current events and the global climate; and he loved to debate. He enjoyed attempting to show people how absurd he thought life was. He was complex, multi-talented, competitive, challenging, very intelligent, bright and clever. 

He was a Registered Professional Surveyor licensed in FCC 1st Class Radio and Radar; CSM Certified Inshore and Offshore Hydrographer; classified in Motorola MiniRanger, Western Argo Operations and Repair, and Del Norte Responders.

He created software and hardware, computer system designs for field navigation, hydrographic surveys, rig placement, and pipeline installations, seismic data acquisition and marine vessels.

Craig traveled for work and fun; surveying oceans, rivers and land in the United States and around the world – to places like Florida, the South Bering Sea, Yakutat, and the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, Costa Rico, the Gulf of Mexico, the Beaufort Sea, Africa, Texas, Wyoming, Washington and beyond.

Craig loved his family and friends. He would call and check in with them often.

“He was a constant in my life, supportive and loving. I’ll miss his calls, ‘Abby!... Keener here. How are you doing? What’s happening?’ He also enjoyed fishing and no matter where he was, he was always ready to get out on a boat, catch fish (or not) and enjoy the day,” Abby said.

Craig was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy (Sherrill) Keener; his father, Red Keener; his stepmother, Mabel (Cropley) Moy; his stepbrother, Wally Cropley; his sister Sheri; and his nephew D.C. McGraw. 

Craig is survived by his sister, Kathy (Dormand) McGraw of Nevada; his stepsister Abby Cropley and family; his niece, Shiloh Sparks and her children, Kody and Carter; his niece Madison McGraw; his Aunt Ann (Jack) Davis of Mount Vernon, Washington; and his cousin Linda Muscatell (and family) of Everett, Washington.

Also dear to his heart were Dale Vilandre and the Frank Vilandre family; and other family and friends, too many to mention.

Due to COVID-19 advisories and travel restrictions, no services have been planned. His cremains will be placed in the Sherrill family plot with his grandfather, grandmother, mother and sister, at the Hamilton Cemetery in Skagit County, Washington. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to a heart fund.  

“So, goodbye until we meet again, my brother. Rest in peace now. I’ll see you in the by and by.” Abby Cropley.

Steven Guy Lee

Steven Guy Lee, a former Sitka resident, died early July 25 of a massive heart attack at his home in Olympia, Washington. He was  63.

He was born March 25, 1957, in Springfield, Oregon. When he was 3, his family moved to Sitka. He attended Sitka schools and worked in fishing and as a handyman. He moved to Olympia about four years ago.

He was a man of many talents, and enjoyed helping with anything he could. 

He especially loved to fish, hunt and go camping.

He left behind a family he so enjoyed being around. He is survived by his wife, Laurie Lee, Olympia; his mother, Joyce Chandler, of the Seattle area; his brother, Loren Lee of Los Angeles, California; his daughter, Vicki Lee of the Seattle area; grandchildren Derek Lee, LaNasha Lee and Jeffery Bruce-Tom; and great-grandchildren Utah Tlingit, HaidaLee, and Xavier  Lee. He was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Urijah Steven Lee.

 Family members will return his ashes to Sitka.

Dan Huston Keck Jr.

Dan Huston Keck Jr. died peacefully at his Davidoff Street home on August 4, 2020. He was 92. 

He was born April 5, 1928, at the family home in Pettigrew, Arkansas, to Dan Huston Keck Sr. and Chloe Haught Keck. His family made their living farming and raising livestock. 

He went to high school in St. Paul, Arkansas, graduating with the class of 1948. The following year he and a cousin traveled to the Okanogan Valley of Washington where some of their friends and family had migrated from Arkansas. While there he managed to join a baseball team and at one of their games he met Betty Neal who also had an Arkansas family background. They were married on September 1, 1950. After a baseball honeymoon to a tournament in British Columbia, they settled in Paterous, Washington. Dan and Betty were married for 64 years, and  had two daughters, Janet Lee and Judy Ann.

In 1960 a family friend who had moved to Sitka convinced them that opportunities were abounding and they should move north. And so they did, packing up the station wagon with their belongings and two kids. They put the car on the ALP barge in Seattle and flew to Sitka via Annette Island. They both went to work at Alaska Lumber and Pulp. Dan apprenticed as a pipefitter and Betty worked at the commissary and then in payroll.

In 1975 they bought The Cellar which was a small infant boutique in the basement of the Franklin Building. Over the next 20 years they expanded it into a retail establishment with a broad inventory of children’s apparel, toys and family shoes. Dan, also, sold and set up Kentwood mobile homes. He and Betty both had an entrepreneurial spirit and found the challenges of business satisfying. 

Dan always wanted to be a part of what was happening in the community and the many important changes that came to Sitka over his lifetime here. To that end, he served city government at the Assembly table and as mayor, was active in the Alaska Municipal League for a number of years at the state level, coached Babe Ruth Baseball, played on volleyball and softball leagues,  designed prom decorations, and was on the Sea Mountain Golf Course Board of Directors during the years it was first developed. He could have easily been called a people person.

Dan was a mandolin picker. He played from a young age with family and in the early days in Sitka he would host jam sessions in his home for any bluegrass players in town. In the mid 1970-1980s Dan played along with Atsuo Tsunoda, Gary Gouker, Jim Davis, Alan Davis and Natalie Holloway in the Baranof Bluegrass Band. They played from Anchorage and the smallest towns in northern Alaska to every community in Southeast. They toured Japan and went to festivals all around the U.S. But their favorite stages were right here in Sitka.

Dan will be greatly missed by his family.

He is survived by his daughters and their husbands Jan and Bob Love, Judy Keck-Walsh and Tom Walsh, grandsons and their wives Evan Love and Lauren Wild, Matthew Love and Diana Sarmiento; great-granddaughters Ema and Eva Love; and his brother Simon Keck.

The family will be having a private service, but wish to thank the community for their condolences and support.