Betty Lou Berry

May 23, 1930 -

Oct 20, 2026

Betty Lou Berry, age 96, passed away on Oct. 20, 2026, from natural causes. A service was held at 2 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church, 616 W 10th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska, with Rev. Piper Cartland officiating. A reception was held afterward. Betty was born to C. Wesley Sr. and Garnett Heverling on May 23, 1930, in Sedro Woolley, Wash. She lived in Everett, Wash., from the age of 2 until 1945, when her family moved to Anchorage. They sailed by steamship from Seattle to Seward and took the railroad to Anchorage. Betty graduated from Anchorage High School in 1948. During high school she worked as head usherette at the Fourth Avenue Theatre. In 1950, Betty married Frank E. Berry in the old First Presbyterian Church at 5th Avenue and F Street in Anchorage with Betty's grandfather, Rev. Morris Heverling officiating. They were married for 54 years until Frank's death in 2004. She became a full-time homemaker with the birth of her four children. Betty returned to the workforce in 1974, working for the Anchorage School District, retiring in 1986. Betty and Frank enjoyed traveling to the Lower 48, Europe and Asia in their retirement. Betty enjoyed being a private pilot. Betty was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Anchorage for over 65 years, serving as a deacon and becoming involved with many community activities including teaching English Second Language and support groups. She was also a member of the Pioneers of Alaska and a charter member of P.E.O., Chapter K. She was a guiding light for her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, C. Wesley Sr. and Garnet Heverling; husband, Frank E. Berry; brother, Charles Heverling Jr.; and sisters, Marie Moorcroft and Esther Mundt. Betty is survived and will be greatly missed by her brother, Duane (DiAnn) Heverling; children, Frankie Klingbeil of Anchorage, Dennis (Roxann) Berry of Anchorage, Janis (John Michael) Chapman of San Bruno, Calif., and David (Amber) Berry of Seabrook Island, S.C.; grandchildren, Sean (Kelly) Klingbeil of Anchorage, Shelly Lamb of Anchorage, Leah Bailey of Walla Walla, Wash., Nathaniel (Brita) Berry of Seattle, Allison (Jean-Michel) Hoffman of Los Angeles, Calif., Andrew Berry of Santa Cruz, Calif., Brian Berry of Portland, Ore., Alexandra Berry of Seabrook Island, Anthony (Erika) Chapman of Manteca, Calif., and Timothy Chapman of Manteca; great-grandchildren, Zachary Klingbeil of Bothell, Wash., Trenton and MacKenzie Klingbeil of Anchorage, Elias, Astrid and Malin Bailey of Walla Walla, Abigail, Alexandra, Anthony Jr. and Diego Chapman of Manteca, and Kahlo and Winter Hoffman of Los Angeles; and many cousins, nieces and nephews from Anchorage, Washington and Arizona.

In her memory, donations may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862-8200; https://wycliffe.org.

Robert Brent Blodgett

Oct 5, 1952 -

Oct 5, 2026

Dr. Robert B. Blodgett passed away Oct. 5, 2026, in Anchorage, Alaska. Born in Pocatello, Idaho, to Avis McClellan Blodgett and Robert Leroy Blodgett, he moved to Anchorage in 1960, where his passion for paleontology began in high school.

He earned his B.S. and M.S. in geology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and his Ph.D. at Oregon State University. He worked with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Smithsonian, studied in Germany as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, and taught at Western Oregon State University before returning to Anchorage as a consulting geologist and paleontologist for government agencies and the oil and gas industry. He built the Alaska Paleontological Database of over 17,000 fossil localities and authored more than 330 publications. Most noted for his studies of brachiopods and gastropods, he was the finest paleontologist to ever work in the Last Frontier. In 2004, a Triassic snail, Blodgettella enormecostata, was named in his honor by colleagues Alexander Nützel and Douglas Erwin. Robert's world-class rock and fossil collection has been donated to the Alaska Geologic Materials Center.

Robert loved fieldwork across Alaska, his two poodles and genealogy. A man of deep faith, he saw God's handiwork in the fossils he studied. He was predeceased by his parents; and sisters, JoAnn Blodgett and Sharon Blodgett Smith; and is survived by nieces and nephews, Chizari Hans, Sandy Fischler-Laube, Keith Lindsey and Joe Fischler Jr. He was laid to rest on Oct. 20, 2026, at Paul Cemetery in Paul, Idaho. Share memories and condolences at hansen-mortuary.com/Obituary.aspx?ID=1320. In Robert's own words, "God bless."

Charles "Chuck" Ellsworth Dickson

Sep 28, 1931 -

Jan 7, 2025

Chuck Dickson, 93, passed away on Jan. 7, 2025. In summer 1948, at age 17, he drove from Seattle, Wash., to Anchorage, Alaska, with his parents and four younger brothers along the newly opened Alaska Highway. After arriving, Chuck went to work as a meter reader for the City of Anchorage Electrical Department. He joined the IBEW and became an apprentice lineman on the city line crew. In 1950, he returned to school, where he first met Corkey Reynolds. They dated for two years before Chuck was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. After serving for two years, Chuck returned to Anchorage High School to complete his senior year. He graduated with the class of 1954, alongside Corkey, though they went their separate ways at the time. In 1955, Chuck began working as a lineman for the Fort Richardson Post Engineers. Five years later, he transferred to the Interior Shop. His work took him throughout Alaska, where he worked on Nike sites and helped with the Star in Arctic Valley. In 1956, Chuck married Elsie, a Canadian woman. They had four children: Dale, Scot, Sandy and Daryl. Together, they homesteaded 160 acres two miles south of Wasilla, Alaska. After the 1964 earthquake, the family moved to Palmer, Alaska, and bought a home on Fishhook Road. After 19 years of marriage, Chuck and Elsie divorced and shared custody of their children. Chuck was an active member of the Pioneers of Alaska in both Palmer and Anchorage, as well as First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage. In June 1994, he attended his 40th high school reunion, where he reconnected with Corkey. Their love blossomed again, and they married a few months later. It was a second marriage for both, and together they built a life filled with love, family, music and laughter.

Cora Sue "Corkey" Dickson

Dec 4, 1936 -

Sep 27, 2026

Corkey Reynolds Heverling Dickson, 89, got her wings on Sept. 27, 2026. Corkey moved from Seattle, Wash., to Juneau, Alaska, with her parents and older brother when she was 2. Shortly afterward, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska. When she was 6 years old, she got rheumatic fever and missed much of her early school days, and her mother homeschooled her. In 1955, she was a runner-up in the Fur Rendezvous Queen contest. There is a picture of the princesses lying on a bear skin rug hanging on the wall of Flattop Pizza & Pool downtown. After high school, she worked for City Fuel as a secretary, where she met her first husband, Chuck Heverling. They had four children: Todd, Lisa, Dale and Susan. They spent 30 years together until his death in 1988. In 1990, she attended the University of Alaska Anchorage and graduated with honors with a degree in business management. She owned her own business and worked in the medical community doing bookkeeping and accounting. In her younger days, she actively sang in choruses and musicals. Gardening was something that she loved doing, as well as playing cards and making Christmas cookies with the family. In 1994, she attended her 40th high school reunion, where she reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Chuck Dickson. They married a few months later and the two families became one large blended family. Corkey was active in the Pioneers of Alaska Igloo # 4 as well as the Presbyterian Church Anchorage. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 616 W 10th Avenue in Anchorage, on Nov. 7, 2026, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to go to: The Pioneers of Alaska, Woman's Igloo #4, Scholarship Fund or First Presbyterian Church Anchorage.

Sheilah Eral

Apr 16, 1942 -

Oct 4, 2026

Sheilah D. Eral, 84, passed away on Oct. 4, 2026. She was born on April 16, 1942, in Columbia, Mo., to Kenneth Carl and Mary Helen Caldwell.

Sheilah met the love of her life, Thomas Eral, at a college dance in Greeley, Colo. The two were married on July 11, 1964, and together they built a loving family, raising their two children, Mary and Mark. In 1976, they moved to Alaska, where Sheilah continued her passion for teaching.

Throughout her life, Sheilah was devoted to helping, teaching and caring for children. Whether as a big sister, teacher, mother, grandmother or great-grandmother, she made a lasting impact on the lives of those around her. She had a generous heart and kindness with a deep love for animals, especially dogs, and a lifelong passion for reading. In her later years, one of her greatest joys was spending time with her five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Sheilah is survived by her daughter, Mary (Robert) Meacham; son, Mark Eral; sisters, Joan (Mark) Metcalf and Jane Shaw; and brother, Bob (Lennie) Bangert. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Ty Meacham, Carly (Tyler) Monica, Nichole Eral, Brian (Skylar) Fite and Dallas Eral; and five beloved great-grandchildren, Axyl Monica, Karlynn Monica, Eden Alvarez, Rose Alvarez and Ina Eral.

Sheilah was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Thomas Eral; twin brother, Randy Caldwell; brother, Bruce Bangert; father, Kenneth Carl Caldwell; mother, Mary Helen Bangert; and stepfather, Averill Bangert.

A celebration of Sheilah's life will be held at her home, or possibly the community center, in Funny River, Alaska, on July 11, 2027, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Her ashes will be laid to rest at Fort Richardson National Cemetery on July 12, 2027, at 1 p.m. Following the cemetery service, family and friends are invited to attend a second celebration of life at the Eagle River VFW #9785 from 3-7 p.m. Feel free to contact Mary with any questions at 907-351-8943.

Leon Hickok

Sep 13, 1940 -

Oct 15, 2026

Leon Hickok, who taught physics and math in the Anchorage School District for more than two decades, died on Oct. 15, 2026, in Anchorage, Alaska. He was 86.

Leon was born on Sept. 13, 1940, in McMinnville, Ore. Despite his mother's misgivings about having a child on Friday the 13th, Leon came to think of it as his lucky day. He grew up in Cottage Grove, Ore. His father encouraged him to repair broken toys rather than replace them and involved him early in building a new family home. Those lessons helped spark Leon's lifelong love of building and figuring out how things worked. He became the person who could fix anything. Despite struggling with dyslexia that went undiagnosed until his 40s, Leon remained a lifelong tinkerer and learner, constantly taking things apart and putting them back together.

Leon graduated from Linfield College with a degree in mathematics in 1964. He briefly worked as a bank examiner before deciding his true calling was teaching and returning to Linfield for his teaching certificate. While there, he met Roberta "Robbie" Hall. Robbie was won over by his sense of humor and mischief.

Leon and Robbie were married in 1967, and went on to teach at the American School in Japan. Leon taught physics and math and coached swimming. Their six years in Tokyo led to a shared love of travel. The two of them traveled together all over the world.

When it was time to leave Japan, Leon agreed to move to Robbie's home state of Alaska. Leon loved Alaska. He loved fishing and camping and adventure. He taught at Bartlett and Dimond high schools. His teaching style was extremely hands-on. He enjoyed bringing physics to life with lab experiments, and he had a story for everything.

Leon is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Roberta Hickok. His energy, sense of humor, singing voice and boundless curiosity will be missed.

A celebration of life open house will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, from 4-6 p.m. at the McCarrey home, 4530 E. 136th Avenue, off Elmore Road in Anchorage. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cook Inletkeeper.

Reinhard W. Howard

Jun 5, 1956 -

Oct 17, 2026

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Reinhard Howard, 70, of Anchorage, Alaska, who passed away from natural causes at his home on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026.

Born in Bamberg, Germany, Reinhard moved to the United States with his mother, Christine, when he was only 3. He settled in Utah with his family before moving to Anchorage, in 1970, at age 14. He attended West High School - Go Eagles! - and graduated with the class of 1974. Reinhard then began working at Pyramid Printing in 1979 and continued for 30 years until suffering a stroke in 2009, which impacted his mobility. After recovering, he worked at Habitat for Humanity and, most recently, Senior & Disability Services. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Senior & Disability Services for the overwhelming love and support they have extended us during this time.

Reinhard married Linda Melarvie on April 7, 1994. Together, they welcomed two children, Chase and Rory, whom he loved more than anything in the world. He was extremely independent, resilient and hardworking. He always had a smile on his face, never complained and found solutions to every challenge in life. His kind, fun and humorous spirit uplifted anyone he interacted with. He lived to support his children and did whatever it took to ensure they were happy, healthy and successful.

In his personal life, Reinhard was an avid scale modeler. A frequent visitor of Anchorage's House of Hobbies, he loved building intricate models of cars, planes, boats and tanks, many of which won first-place ribbons in competitions and were built with one hand. A self-proclaimed "Trekkie," he could recite any line from any Star Trek episode ever made. He also loved sports, namely the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Kraken, whom he'd cheer on whenever they were playing.

He is survived by his daughter, Rory Howard; and son, Chase Howard.

Tamra D. Jakoblich

Oct 21, 2026

Tamra D. Jakoblich was born to Eternal Life on Oct. 21, 2026, at the age of 67. She was the loving mother of Jon (Stephanie) Jakoblich, and dear grandmother of four grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, at St. Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church, 13060 Lake Boulevard in Lindstrom, Minn. Visitation will be held one hour prior to Mass at church. There will be a private family interment at a later date.

Grandstrand Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements, 651-257-4000, www.grandstrandfh.com.

Albert Lee

Aug 4, 1950 -

Oct 10, 2026

Albert Man-Bik Lee, 76, of Eagle River, Alaska, passed away at home on Oct. 10, 2026, after a battle with Parkinson's disease.

Albert was born on Aug. 4, 1950, in Hong Kong, China, to Chun-Hoo and Kwei-Ying Lee.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington, Albert joined the U.S. Army in 1986. He served for three years before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1989, where he continued his service until 1999. He then worked as a civilian registered nurse for the Department of Defense until retiring in 2013.

Albert met Cynthia "Cyndi" Bell in 2008, and they married in Norcross, Ga., in 2010. Following his retirement, Albert and Cyndi moved to Alaska, where he worked as a registered nurse at Providence Alaska Medical Center and Alaska Regional Hospital.

In Alaska, Albert enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially fishing and hunting. He was also a member of the United Methodist Church of Chugiak.

Albert is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia "Cyndi" Bell-Lee of Eagle River; children, Mindy (Andy) Rupert, Brendan (Destiny) Lee of Eagle River and Michelle (Beau) Ettestad of Miami, Okla.; beloved grandchildren, Cheryl Rupert, Derrek Lee, David Lee, Jaden Rupert of Eagler River, and Lily Ettestad, Josiah Ettestad, John Ettestad, Lydia Ettestad and Arielle Ettestad of Miami, Okla.; sisters, Dorna (Jonathan) Ling, Doris Li and Kelly Lee of Texas; and brother, Peter Li, of Hong Kong; as well as several cousins in California, Canada, China, and Malaysia.

Albert was preceded in death by his father, Chun-Hoo Lee; mother, Kwei-Ying Wong Lee; and brother, Simon Lee.

A Celebration of Life will be held in spring 2027.

Memorial Donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or the Parkinson's Foundation in Albert's name.

Laron "Larry" P. Martin Jr.

Dec 29, 1947 -

Aug 20, 2026

Laron "Larry" Pratt Martin Jr. was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on Dec. 29, 1947, to Laron Pratt Martin Sr. and Mercedes Dwars Martin. He grew up in Anchorage and, after graduating from East High in 1966, attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks until joining the Navy.

In his 20s, Larry went into retail management and truly found his calling. He worked for Carr-Gottstein and the Alaska Commercial Company for many years. He embraced challenges of retail management and his adventurous spirit took him all over Alaska, from Anchorage to Soldotna, Wasilla, Delta Junction, Big Lake, Seward, Kodiak, Dutch Harbor and Emmonak – the adventures were on!

After managing retail stores across the state, Larry was hired as the CEO of Petersburg's Hammer & Wikan in 1998, and spent the next 25 years running their hardware, grocery and convenience stores.

He felt he'd truly found his home and quickly became involved in what he described as "an amazing community." He was a very involved member of the Rotary Club, the Elks and the Moose Lodge. He absolutely loved May Fest and every Christmas Eve, during julebukking, he could be found serving "moose milk" at the Hammer & Wikan paint counter.

Larry loved his work, but he loved fun and adventure even more. He was in the woods or on the water every chance he got, hunting, fishing, crabbing or shrimping. He had a slight wood cutting addiction that fueled his love of gathering around beach fires with family and friends – and fireworks!

Larry will be remembered by his customers for his friendly smile and by his family as a generous and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He passed away, at 78, peacefully at home in Petersburg, Alaska, on Aug. 20, 2026.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Laron Pratt Martin Sr. and Mercedes (Dwars) Martin; wife, Patricia Martin; sons, Murray Martin and James Becker; and sister, Nadara Williams.

He is survived by his wife, Julie Martin; daughters, Christina (Eric) Wyatt, Kellie Espinoza and Jacqueline Pfeiffer; son, Steven (Jenny) Pfeiffer; niece, Debbie (John) Bitney; nephew, Laron (Kaylee) Williams; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A burial service will be held at 11 a.m., on Nov. 7, 2026, at Angelus Memorial Cemetery, 440 East Klatt Road, Anchorage AK 99515.

Sheila Bunker Nickerson

Apr 14, 1942 -

Sep 27, 2026

Sheila Nickerson, 84, of Bellingham, Wash., died on Sept. 27, 2026, at home. Born April 14, 1942, in New York City, to Charles and Mavis Bunker, she graduated summa cum laude from Bryn Mawr College in 1964 and later earned a Ph.D. from the Union Institute.

She married Martinus Hoffman "Martin" Nickerson in 1964. They moved to Juneau, Alaska, in 1971, where Sheila developed a distinguished literary career. Author of more than 17 books spanning poetry, fiction and nonfiction, she explored wilderness, wildlife, Arctic exploration and humanity's relationship with nature. Appointed Poet Laureate of Alaska in 1977, she twice received the Pushcart Prize for poetry.

She collaborated with many Alaskan artists, worked with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and shared her passion for education through the Artists in Schools program. She helped establish University Within Walls, bringing educational opportunities to incarcerated Alaskans. In 2001, she participated in the Harriman Expedition Retraced.

After retirement, Sheila and Martin sailed the Caribbean before settling in Bellingham. Fiercely independent, intellectually curious and generous, she loved animals, rescued racehorses and welcomed visitors for afternoon tea.

Preceded in death by Martin and her brother, Sheffield Bunker, she is survived by children Helen, Thomas and Samuel; grandchildren, Anna, India, Peter, Storm , Kira, Bode and Nina; two great-granddaughters, Griffin and Gisele; and sister, Mavis Taintor.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries, friendjpls.org. An outdoor memorial is planned for summer 2027.

Stephen Webb

Sep 13, 1950 -

Oct 18, 2026

Stephen Charles Webb passed away on Oct. 18, 2026. Born on Sept. 13, 1950, in Long Beach, Calif., he was the beloved son of Dale and Margaret Webb. The Webb family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1953, living during an era of great change and chaos during the pipeline days. Steve spent most of his adult life living in Fairbanks, North Pole, Anchorage and Wasilla, Alaska.

Steve met his wife in Anchorage in April 1998, they bought 20 acres in Wasilla and moved in October 1998, and married at the ranch in June 1999. They built a construction company together and spent 17 years traveling around the state working until his retirement in 2015. The ranch became the oasis from the hustle and bustle of contracting/construction seasons. Anyone who knew Steve soon realized that retirement was not in his nature. He became an inventor and held two patents; he had endless ideas that he loved to share with friends. Steve will be remembered for his stories, his passion for life and his sincere effort to be a friend to everyone he met. He sought to bring a smile to at least one person every day, leaving warmth and kindness in the lives of those around him.

He is survived by his wife, Terry; son, Jacob; daughter, Jennifer Booda; son-in-law, Patrick Booda; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Margaret; son, Griffin; brother, Peter; and niece, Jonda Renee Webb.

A celebration of life will be held on Nov. 7, 2026, at 1 p.m., at Janssen's Mat-Su Funeral Home, Reception Room, 6901 E. Blue Lupine Drive in Palmer, Alaska. Bring your best Steve story with you to share.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the charity of your choice.

Joan Wooliver

Nov 19, 1930 -

Sep 2, 2026

Joan Wooliver passed away on Sept. 2, 2026. She was born to Herbert "Bobby" and Dorothy Graham Brown in Kaslo, B.C., Canada. Joan was raised on the shores of Kootenay Lake at Walker's Landing.

She attended high school in Spokane, Wash., then Central Washington University. Following graduation, Joan moved to Seattle, Wash., where she worked for Alaska Airlines.

Looking for adventure, Joan transferred with Alaska Airlines to Anchorage, Alaska, in March 1955.

She lived in the old Inlet Towers with two friends from school who were instrumental in luring her North. She met her future husband, George Wooliver, on her first day at the ticket counter!

Joan and George were married in June 1956, and they decided to settle down in Anchorage to raise their family.

Joan was an active and involved member of the community, working with the League of Women Voters, the Spruce Hens, St. John United Methodist Church as well as being a 4-H leader.

Later in life she volunteered at the Anchorage Senior Center in the quilting room.

Joan loved crafts of all types and ran a mail-order craft business out of her home for more than 20 years. She was an avid quilter and made over 700 quilts – mostly for children – that she donated to local shelters so that families would have something warm and cozy of their own when moving into more permanent housing.

Joan was a lifelong learner and took a keen interest in the world around her. She loved to travel, and she and George enjoyed many trips all over the world. They also traveled closer to home, motor homing throughout the West and Southwest.

Joan was always cheerful, positive and full of boundless energy– the sort of person whose cup was not half full, but rather overflowing. She was a keeper of family and local stories and a true matriarch. She will be greatly missed.

If people would like to make a donation to Friends of Pets, Heifer or another charity of their choosing in Joan's honor, it would be greatly appreciated.

Joan is survived by her sister, Brenda Dau of Richland, Wash.; three children, Steve (Suzy), Doug (Lin Heiser) and Jane (Dave McVeigh); five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.