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PEDER HAROLD ESPESETH JR.
Pete had fought colon cancer since it was discovered in October of 2003. He was treated throughout 2004. Until it recurred in 2007 he continued to go around the world on short-term mission trips, hunt, fish and fulfilled a long-time ambition to “shoot a hippo.”
He died Sept. 21, 2009.
A celebration of his life in Christ will be held at Settler’s Bay Community Church on Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. Visitation with his family will be at the church immediately following the service.
Pete was born Jan. 10, 1945 in Louisville, Ky., to Peder Harold Espeseth and Thelma Louise (Klingman) Espeseth. His family moved to New Albany, Ind., where he grew up and graduated from New Albany High School. He received his bachelors in education from Indiana University Southeast and his masters of education from the University of Montana.
Pete married the love of his life Susan True Bertrand, MD., on June first 1974. They lived in Seattle, Missoula, Mont., and Princeton, W.V. In November of 2003 they moved to Anchorage, moving to Wasilla the following year.
Pete taught in New Albany, Ind., at East Spring Street School before moving west. He taught at Maple Valley Christian School in the south Seattle area and at Valley Christian School in Missoula. He was associate pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Missoula as well.
While living in Princeton, W.V., Pete developed a farm instituting the first Voisin intensive grazing system in the state, earning him “Farmer of the Year” recognition.
Throughout his life Pete was an active Christian and churchman. Proudest of his accomplishments was co-founding Heaven Sent Ministries, a ministry founded to help frontline missionaries, both foreign and domestic to reach the world for Christ. Pete traveled all over the world serving with Heaven Sent Ministries in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Uganda, Ghana and India.
Pete is survived by his wife, Susan Bertrand Espeseth, his daughter and son-in-law, Mindy Ann and William Robert Tatum of Raleigh, N.C., grandchildren, Kayleigh True Scott Tatum and Andrew Peder Roy Tatum. He is also survived by his mother, Thelma Espeseth of Cincinnati, and his brother and sister-in-law Paul and Theresa Espeseth of Naples, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heaven Sent Ministries, P.O. Box 5392, Princeton, WV 24740 or online at www. HSMINC.org.
BOBBY G. NICHOLAI
Life long Alaska resident, Bobby Nicholai, 38, died Oct. 3 at his residence in Wasilla. The funeral is today at 3:30 p.m., at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 1015 S. Check St. in Wasilla. Fr. Christopher Stanton will officiate. There will be a visitation starting at 2 p.m. prior to the service.
Bobby was born Dec. 10, 1970 to Alexie and Balassia Nicholai in Bethel.
Bobby was self-employed, selling his home-made Yupik Eskimo ulus and earrings. He also worked at Subway restaurant, chopped wood and was a member of the Search and Rescue in Bethel.
He received numerous awards at the Special Olympics for skiing.
Bobby loved fishing, fiddle dancing, skiing, bowling and basketball. He also loved doing crafts and spending time with family and friends. He also enjoyed being out in the wilderness.
His family wrote: “Bobby enjoyed passing on Native traditions to others. He was kind to all and had a good heart. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him and all who had the pleasure of meeting him.”
He was preceded in death by his father, Alexie Nicholai; brother, Tommy A. Nicholai and niece, Marelene A. Nicholai.
He is survived by his mother, Balassia Nicholai; brothers, David, Harry and Sammy Nicholai; sisters, Martha, Marla and Exenia Nicholai; nieces, Kelly Nix, Martha Binkley, Marla Nicholai, Rhonda Robnett, Shirley Ivan, Crystal Hamlin and Carla and Alexie Nicholai; nephews, Nicholas and Michael Robnett, Leif Poole, Mario Clement, Richard Hamlin and Curtis and Tommy Nicholai.
Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel in Wasilla.
BENJAMIN LAMOURIA
Wasilla resident Benjamin Lamouria, 90, died Sept. 18 of natural causes at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.
Benjamin was born June 13, 1919 to Peter and Louise Lamouria in Munising, Mich.
Benjamin served in the Army Air Corp from December 1940 to September 1945 and was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked in 1941. He was honorably discharged from the 541st Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron.
He worked with the Army National Guard in Rochester, N.Y., where he retired in 1979 after 30 years of service.
Benjamin received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal, seven Overseas Service Bars / No Time Lost Under AW 107, Lapel Button Issued, four Discharge Emblem issued, ASR Score (2 Sep. ’45) 118 / Good Conduct Medal.
He moved to Alaska in 1989.
He enjoyed making things out of woods and metals, reading and he loved tinkering in the garage.
His family said, “He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and was liked by everyone who met him. He was a wonderful person and best friend to his wife of 62 years.”
He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Louise Lamouria; brothers, Peter, Robert, Ted and Lloyd Lamouria; sisters, Lois Sisson and Mureen Lamouria and daughter, Diane Lamouria.
He is survived by his wife, Edith C. Lamouria of Wasilla; daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Daniel Alcock of Wasilla; son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Karen Lamouria of Wasilla; grandsons, Norman Darling and wife Pam of Eielson AFB; Michael P. Lamouria of Wasilla; granddaughters, Chantel Heitmann and husband Roger of Newark, N.Y., and Michelle Lamouria of Palmyra, N.Y.; great-grandchildren, Jared Hardy, Sean and Jasmine Biery all of Newark, Brandon and Holly Darling of Eielson AFB, Dylan Rose Lamouria of Palmyra and many nieces and nephews in Mich.
Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel.
Rubye Davidson Melton
Family and friends of Rubye Davidson Melton celebrate her life today.
Born April 1, 1919, in Finger, Tenn., she was the daughter of Martin Van Buren Davidson Jr. and Pearlie Reeves Davidson. Rubye married Lloyd Carl Melton in 1945; they enjoyed 52 years of marriage before his death in 1998. She is survived by a son, Don Carlos Melton and his wife, Paulette of Lexington, Tenn., and a daughter, Betty Carrington and her husband John of Wasilla. Rubye leaves one granddaughter, Michelle Carrington of Memphis and two step-granddaughters, Jessica Hughes, her husband Lee, and Tonya Essary, her husband Jason. She was blessed with three step-great-grandchildren, Marley and Samantha Hughes and Scarlett Essary. She leaves one sister, Ann Murphy of Jacksonville, Fla., one sister-in-law, Helen Coleman of Smyrna, Tenn., and a close friend and loved one, Pat McConnell of Columbus, Ohio. Besides her husband she was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, and six sisters.
Rubye spent most of her life in West Tennessee, but spent the last four and a half years of life in Alaska, enjoying new adventures every day. Rubye was passionate about her family, laughter, gardening, all children and animals. She lives on in the hearts of many friends both in Alaska and Tennessee.
A visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 1015 S. Check Street in Wasilla.
Eleanor Lynette Locke
Kenai resident, Eleanor Lynette “Ellie” Locke, died July 24 at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She was 2 years and 10 months old.
Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m., today at Peninsula Memorial Chapel, 5839 Kenai Spur Hwy., in Kenai. Pastor Rick Cupp will officiate. A tree planting ceremony in memory of Ellie will be held at a later date.
Ellie was born Sept. 1, 2006 to Russell D. and Jamie D. (Eastlick) Locke at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. She lived in Wasilla until March 1, 2007 when her family moved to Kenai where she has resided ever since. Ellie attended the Sonshine House Day Care & Pre-school in Soldotna for the last year. She loved playing outside and singing in the car. Ellie also loved “Dora the Explorer” and Princesses.
“Ellie was the happiest little girl. She always had a smile and loved to get her big brother Axel in trouble. Ellie needed “baby bear” with her at all times. She would always have a dirty face. Wash her face and turn around and it was dirty again. Ellie, you were truly loved and will always be missed, ” wrote the family.
Ellie is survived by her parents Russell and Jamie Locke of Kenai; brother, Axel Locke of Kenai; aunt, Lori Bankston of Newport Beach, Calif.; uncles, Anton Eastlick of Soldotna and Derek “Muzzy” Locke of Kenai; grandmother, who Ellie called “Neena, ” Nancy Locke of Sterling; grandpa, Jeffrey Locke of Kenai; and grandparents, Dale and Lynette Eastlick of Soldotna.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made at any Wells Fargo Bank, under the account name: Bridges/The Locke Family Fund. Donations may also be made at Country Foods in Kenai.
Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Thomas Lee Hollis
Thomas Lee Hollis, 82, passed away July 18 with his wife at his side after a long illness. He was born in Wyoming on Aug. 18, 1926, the son of ranchers Lee F. and Ferne (Young) Hollis.
Thomas’s family struggled in the wake of the Great Depression and moved to Alaska in 1929 when Thomas was only 3 years old.
They lived in Anchorage for a time before moving to Healy, where Thomas remained for 22 years. His mother, Ferne, had been his teacher until he attended and subsequently graduated from Fairbanks High School. Thomas graduated from Fairbanks University with a bachelor of science degree and at the age of 60 he received a master’s degree in electrical engineering. He retired from his civil service position at Elmendorf AFB.
Thomas enjoyed spending time with his friends at George’s. He also loved Alaska. He moved to New Mexico for five years, and upon his return he promptly kissed the ground. He was so happy to be home.
He is survived by his wife, Jean; sister, Margaret Joens of Fairbanks; sister-in-law, Carolyn Hollis of Centralia, Wash.; and daughter Sandra Underwood of Richland, Wash.
Thomas was predeceased by his first wife, Holly Ann Hollis; brother, Grant Hollis; and his parents.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., on Friday at Valley Funeral Home, 151 E. Herning Ave., Wasilla. Thomas’s ashes will be scattered privately at a later date.
Arrangements are under the care of Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.
Albert Taylor
Palmer resident, Albert Taylor, 81, died June 14 of natural causes. A private visitation was held on June 16 at Kehl’s Palmer Funeral Home in Palmer.
A celebration of life took place at his home on June 17 with a remembrance given by his brother John Taylor, and a special prayer given by family member Rodney Brooks, with other family members in attendance.
Mr. Taylor was born to Burt and Fern Taylor on April 11, 1928, in Des Moines, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his father, William Burton Taylor and great-grandson Ridge Minnick.
In 1944 he enlisted in the Navy at 17 after completing high school. While in the Navy, he was in fire control and his job was setting the range of the big guns on a cruiser he served on during World War II. After the war he was moved to a destroyer and assigned to the Under Water Demolition Team because of his great swimming abilities. He cleared mines and explosives in various harbors throughout this Pacific Theater, and was involved in the Bikini bomb blasts in the Bikini Atolls. He was honorably discharged on April 11, 1949.
After the service, he went to Sweet Home, Ore., where he met and married Constance Forster on Jan. 9, 1953. Albert and Connie moved to Anchorage in 1974 and resided there through 1978 moving to Palmer in 1978 to the present. Albert’s work career included general foreman/superintendent timber faller, lumber grader, construction millwright throughout northern California and Oregon. In Alaska he was employed from 1974-1978 by Fluor, and worked on the Alaska oil pipeline from the North Slope to Valdez as a general foreman millwright. Beginning in 1979 he was employed at the diesel mechanic shop on Elmendorf Air Force Base and took care of maintenance and repair on diesel generators on base and sites throughout Alaska. He retired from Elmendorf in 1990. Albert was commended many times for his work achievements at Elmendorf, and was known by his co-workers as “The Best.”
Albert belonged to the National Rifle Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Millwright Union-Oregon, International Woodworkers Union-Oregon, carpenters and Piledrivers and Divers Unions-Alaska.
His hobbies included fishing and hunting, and he enjoyed working on just about anything and building anything from scratch in his shop.
Albert was always committed to and loved his family. He strived to be the best at what he did, and his reputation throughout his career was always being the best. He was a strong believer in using common sense on everything.
He is survived by his wife, Constance Taylor, son and wife, Bill and Shari Taylor, daughter and husband Arlene and Eldon Jeffreys, grandchildren Michael Jeffreys, Gretchen Sonnentag, Leroy Jeffreys, Sharilyn Minnick, Kathleen Burris, great-grandchildren Jade Jeffreys, Trinity Jeffreys, Ellie Jeffreys, Delaney Burris, Ty Sonnentag, Dakota Inman, mother Edith Fern Truelove, brothers Robert Taylor, John Taylor, sisters, Betty Gourley, Ruby Womack, Dorothy Brockway, Joann LaBelle, Linda Taylor-Johnson, and many other relatives.
His ashes will be spread in Alaska and Oregon.
Gertrude H. Clarke
Gertrude H. Clarke died in her home of natural causes on May 27. Gertrude was born in Colorado on May 16, 1919, and celebrated her 90th birthday with her family on May 16.
Robert and Gertrude Clarke and their three children moved to Alaska in June of 1951. They spent their first year living in Anchorage and moved to Wasilla in June of 1952. Gertrude was a homemaker, small-business owner and community volunteer throughout her life.
Her main focus was her family and she spent her life building a legacy of love and time given freely to family and friends. When her family shares their remembrances of Gertrude, it is always about the time she gave them listening to their fears and joys, playing games with her competitive spirit and simply being each one’s exuberant cheerleader and life coach.
Gertrude joined her late husband Robert, in initiating and participating in the horseback riding program for the Valley’s special needs children.
She drew great delight in seeing the smiles of excitement on the faces of children who had never ridden a horse before.
Because of this, for those who would like to express their love and fondness for Gertrude the family asks that donations be made to the Alaska Special Olympics in her name. This may be done by logging onto their web site at
www.specialolympicsalaska.org.
Gertrude is survived by her daughter Barbara Taylor, daughter and son-in-law, David and Cheryl ZumBrunnen of Wasilla, and her son and daughter-in-law Dale Clarke and Bonnie Brisky of Naples, Fla., , five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and the many special adopted grandchildren and great-grandchildren she took into her heart.
Gertrude was laid to rest at the Wasilla Cemetery on May 29, with a small family graveside service.
