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Shan J. Satterfield
Shan J. Satterfield, CWO3 U.S. Army, 32, died Dec. 12, 2011, as the result of a helicopter accident in the line of duty. He was born May 18, 1979, in Anchorage, the son of Gary and Cynthia Satterfield.
A memorial service in honor of Shan is at 1 p.m., Jan. 7 at First Presbyterian church in Wasilla with Pastor Henry Woodall officiating. Graveside services with full military honors are at 1 p.m., June 23 at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Anchorage.
He lived most of his life in Alaska. He graduated from Dimond High in 1997 before joining the U.S. Army in September 1997. He served in such places as Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C., during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.
Shan received numerous awards while he was a SWAT sniper and then as a helicopter aviator. He loved to fly and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially playing with Kinsley and Owen as often as his job allowed. Shan also enjoyed playing keyboard and bass guitar when he wasn't rocking out to "Rockband" with family. Shan had almost received his bachelor's degree and was considering continuing on for his master's.
Shan will be remembered by his family as someone who had an awesome sense of humor and for his warm hugs and smiles. He was an instructor pilot, a wonderful teacher, a mentor and respected by his many colleagues. Shanliked the quote: "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him, " which defined his choice of career nicely. He will be loved and missed always.
Shan is survived by his wife, Sassa Satterfield, and their children, Kinsley and Owen, all of Alaska (though all currently in Washington, as Shan was); parents, Gary and Cynthia Satterfield; brother, Scott Satterfield and wife Patricia. He is also survived by his nephew and niece, Shae and McKenna Satterfield; grandmothers, Lanell Schmidt of Mississippi and JoAnn Satterfield of Tennessee; father and mother-in-law, Lee and Sharon Seagondollar; brother and sister-in-law, Mitchell and Shannon Seagondollar of Oregon; and niece and nephew, Jenna and Evan Seagondollar, also of Oregon. He is also survived by many uncles, aunts, cousins, family members and friends.
Donations may be made in his memory for a memorial statue to be erected at JBLM honoring Shan, as well as his three fellow aviators who died in the same accident: Four Fallen c/o America's Credit Union P.O. Box 33338 JBLM, WA 98433. Reference account No. 695824, routing No. 325180634.
Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel of Wasilla cared for the family.
Theodore G. Smith
Theodore G. (Ted) Smith, 82, died Jan. 1, 2012.
He was born Nov. 9, 1929, and moved to Sitka after graduating from the University of Washington in 1958.
In Sitka he met the love of his life, Joyce. And after a long courtship, Ted and Joyce were married Nov. 18, 1966.
Ted served the state of Alaska for most of his life, starting with the Alaska Pulp Co. in Sitka. In 1960, he was hired as an inventory forester for the state and moved to Anchorage. He advanced to area forester in 1961, and was promoted to parks and recreation officer in 1963. In 1967, Ted was named chief of Parks and Recreation, and promoted to director of the Division of Parks in 1970.
Ted ran for the Legislature in 1974, and was elected to the House of Representatives. As a representative, he chaired the Labor and Management Committee and served as vice chair of the Resources Committee. He was named chair of the House Majority Caucus. Ted sponsored bills to create nine state parks, including Nancy Lakes State Recreation Area and Chugach State Park, of which he was most proud.
In 1976, he was appointed Director of Land and Water Management. He held this position until his retirement in 1982, when he moved to Willow. Retirement for Ted was defined as a continuation of his community service. He was appointed to the Mat-Su Resource Conservation and Development Board, and in 1988 was elected to the Mat-Su Borough Assembly.
Ted also volunteered for many organizations. A partial list includes president of the Willow Area Community Organization, chair of the Mat-Su Loggers Association, executive committee of the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau, board of directors of the Alaska Historical Society, the Upper Susitna State Parks Advisory Board, the Mat-Su Borough Agriculture and Forestry Advisory Board and many others.
Surviving are his wife, Joyce; sons, Mike (Donita) and Steve (Kathy); seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Fred; and sister, Cathy.
A celebration of Ted's life will be held later this year. Donations in Ted's name can be made to the Alzheimer's Association online at alz.org.
At the family's request, there will be no service.
Tyler Graham Kershner
Tyler Graham Kershner, 4 months, died on Jan. 24, 2012, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.
He was born Sept. 21, 2011, in Lake St. Louis, Mo., to Steven and Destini Kershner.
A visitation for family and friends is from 5 to 7 p.m., Jan. 27, at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 1015 S. Check St., Wasilla. A celebration of life is at 1:30 p.m., Jan. 28 at the funeral home and burial will follow at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery.
"Tyler brought great joy and many smiles with his bright eyes and his smile from the day God blessed us with his presence, " his family said. "He brought joy and shared his resilience and happiness throughout his short life. He was a happy baby with bright eyes that really lit up the room. His loving innocence and brightness will forever live in our hearts."
Surviving are his parents, Steven Kershner of Wasilla and Destini Kershner of Royston, Ga.; grandparents Ray and Tabitha Kershner of Wasilla, John and Karen Damjanovich of Remer, Minn., and Roger and Kathi Hopkins of Royston, Ga.; great-grandmother, Margaret Strickland of Emily, Minn.; great-great-grandfather, E. Fred Wooldridge of Graham, Texas; and aunt and uncle, Stephani and Ryan Johnson of Wasilla.
Preceding him in death was his great-great-grandmother, Betty Wooldridge.
Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel Wasilla cared for the family.
Wayne Ray King
Wasilla resident Wayne Ray King, 63, died at Granny's Downhome Care Center Dec. 23, 2011.
No services are scheduled at Wayne's request.
Wayne was born April 15, 1948, in Lansing, Mich., to Herbert and Geraldine (Meacham) King.
Wayne graduated high school and served his country in the U.S. Army for two years. Before retiring, Wayne worked as a carpenter and auto mechanic.
Wayne moved to Alaska in 2006 to help Pat Berry with her assisted living home (Granny's Downhome), where he lived until the end of his life. He was a great help to Pat assisting with repairs, errands and other things around the home. Wayne enjoyed hunting (shot his first moose in 2009) and halibut fishing. All the residents at Granny's liked him for his good and dry sense of humor. He will be sorely missed by all, especially his constant companions, Dusty and Buster (his girls).
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Geraldine King; and his brother, Ron King.
Surviving are his life partner, Pat Berry of Wasilla; daughter and son-in-law, Katina and Chuck Mathews and family of Lansing, Mich.; sister and son-in-law, Christine King and Butch of Lansing, Mich.; sister and son-in-law, Deb and Claude Oliver of Kissimmee, Fla.; brother and sister-in-law, Jerry Lynn and Cheryl King of Lansing, Mich.; son and daughter-in-law, Jamie and Elizabeth Miller of North Carolina; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
The family was cared for by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.
Arthur “Art” Jerald Manginelli
Arthur "Art" Jerald Manginelli, 80, died Dec. 7, 2011, at his home in Wasilla after a long battle with cancer.
Art was born Feb. 8, 1931, in Fort Robertson, Neb., ready for his life of adventure. He ran away from home at 14 to join a circus and see the country. In 1947, he misled a recruiter about his age and joined the Navy, eventually helping to rebuild Pearl Harbor.
He moved to Alaska in 1956 to continue his adventures and meet and married his wife, Eva. He worked as a lumberjack in the Sitka area and helped rebuild and relocate Valdez after the earthquake. He was a heavy equipment operator, building various airports around Alaska, and a gold miner. Those were some of his adventures.
Art also owned a ship sandblasting and painting business in Homer and spent a good deal of time driving trucks on the Haul Road.
"Dad was an ice road trucker before anyone knew that was a thing, " his family wrote.
He and Eva eventually settled in Wasilla, but his life never slowed down. In his scarce free time, Art enjoyed fabricating items from scratch using wood or metal, traveling and spending time with his family.
"Dad's heart and hands were the size of Alaska, " his family wrote. "You could always count on him to lend a helping hand. His zest and adventure for life cannot be compared. Daddy was a real life action hero, our own John Wayne. We are going to miss him terribly. We look forward to being with him again on the other side."
He is survived by his wife, Eva Manginelli; daughters, Patricia Johnson, Toni Gideon, Tamera Moore-Grimes, Pamela Spicer, Monique Potter and Kimberly Manginelli; sons, Jerald and Kenneth Manginelli; brothers, Roy and Ralph; sisters, Viola, Nita and Ellen; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His sister Alice preceded him in death.
Per his wishes, there will be no services. His final resting place will be in Homer, which Art described as being "the most beautiful place (he) had ever been."
Arthur Lain Brundage
Former Palmer resident Arthur Lain Brundage, 84, died Dec. 30, 2011, at the Glen Arden Health Care Center in Goshen, N.Y. Dr. Brundage was born Dec. 19, 1927, in Shawangunk, N.Y., to David E. and Caroline M. (Boyce) Brundage. He grew up on the family farm and attended Pine Bush High School in Pine Bush, N.Y. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in 1950, and his master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1952 and 1955 respectively.
He married Helen Harvey on June 23, 1951, in Stillwater, Minn. Art and Helen came to Alaska in 1952 and he joined the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture staff at the Matanuska Experiment Farm, where he led the Dairy Science program. He joined the faculty of the University of Alaska as a professor in 1968. His research focused on the challenges of dairy and beef cattle husbandry in Alaska. He also taught at Mat-Su College.
He also was an elder of the United Protestant Church in Palmer, a coach and umpire for Little League baseball and judged livestock for the Alaska State Fair. He enjoyed gardening and won many awards at the fair for his magnificent flowers. He retired in 1985 and was honored by an appointment as an emeritus professor with the university.
In retirement he began training, showing and breeding Old English sheepdogs and bearded collies. He was active in the Cook Inlet Kennel Club and worked with 4-H Youth and their dogs in obedience training and competition.
He lived near Palmer until 2009, when he moved to Goshen, N.Y., near his boyhood home.
Surviving are son and daughter-in-law, William and Dilys Brundage of Colorado Springs, Colo.; son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Shelley Brundage of Silver Spring, M.D.; son and daughter-in-law, Rodney and Kathy Brundage of Morgantown, W.V.; grandchildren, Kristen and Lindsey of Colorado Springs, and Janetta of Silver Spring; and great-grandchild Gwendolyn of Colorado Springs.
Preceding him in death was his wife, Helen; an infant child, Caroline; and his brother, David.
Becky Ann Carter
Palmer resident Becky Ann Carter, 43, died unexpectedly Jan. 2, 2012, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.
Funeral Services in honor of Becky are at 11 a.m., Jan. 12, at Valley Funeral Home and Chapel, 151 E. Herning Ave., Wasilla. A public viewing is one hour prior to services. Becky will be buried at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery.
Becky was born Jan. 29, 1968, in Denver, Colo., the daughter of Roger and Sharon (Darlington) Carter.
Becky lived most of her life in Alaska and attended special education classes at Dimond High School. She lived in the Mat-Su Valley since 1998 and received community support from Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults (MSSCA). Becky loved bright colors and enjoyed wearing matching earrings and necklaces. She collected Winnie the Poohs, had a fondness for Disney movies and "Little House on the Prairie." Becky decorated her apartment for the various holidays and she would provide goodies to those who visited. Becky also loved making ceramics and giving them as gifts. She enjoyed going out to her favorite local restaurants, parties, root beer and playing darts.
Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults provided support to her for more than 13 years. Prior to that she lived in Anchorage and received community support from Hope. With MSSCA's support and love she was able to remain in the community in her own apartment for the last five years and live a fulfilling and adventurous life. Becky had many wonderful caregivers who worked with her through the years and she valued those memories.
Surviving Becky are her loving and caring "extended family" and many friends in the community. She had many adventures with her "extended family" that included visiting Santa at the North Pole, summer RV camping trips around Alaska, swimming, volunteering and she loved to bake and deliver sweets to those who were special to her.
Becky will be remembered for her smiles, big heart and her sometimes-mischievous side.
Family cared for by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.
Belva Ileene Hayes
Wasilla resident Belva Ileene Hayes, 78, died Dec. 27, 2011, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.
A memorial service is at 2 p.m., Jan. 2 at Kehl's Palmer Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Wasilla Area Senior Center in her name.
Ileene was born Aug. 21, 1933, in Gallipolis, Ohio, to Basil Lee and Dorthea (Davis) Hayes. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Tampa, Fla., where she went to school. She met and married U.S. Air Force Sgt. Harry G. Cummins. From there her family was stationed in many parts of the world.
In early 1966, Ileene moved to Alaska to be near her children. In 2001, she met Tom Hughes and lived very happily with him until her death. Her last job was with Bingo Mania, where she was known as "Granny" until she retired in 2009.
Her hobbies included gardening, bingo, poker, gambling, cage fighting, football, football pools and family.
"See was funny, feisty, strong-willed, loud, lovable and a great sense of what family should be like, " the family wrote. "She taught us a lot more and Heaven is a better place with her in it."
Ileene is survived by her mate, Thomas Hughes; daughter and son-in-law, Truday and David Visker; son, Gerry Lee Cummins; daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Steve Marchione; brother and sister-in-law Basil Lee and Rose Hayes; brother and sister-in-law, Vernon and Laurie Horne; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Harry G. Cummins; mother, Dorthea Caldwell; father, Basil Hayes; and stepfather, Walter Caldwell.
