Diane Carpenter (Shahin)

Oct 25, 1932 -

Mar 22, 2025

Diane Carpenter, formerly of Bethel, Alaska, born Diane Shahin on Oct. 25, 1932, died on March 22, 2025, in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, where she lived for many years. She was 92. Diane died the way she wanted to, at home, thanks to the care of her longtime staff and her brother Steven Vollertsen. She would have adored the farewell fiesta in her honor, to which her whole community of Alamos, as well as Alaska and beyond via livestream, was invited.

Diane was born in Florida, attended university and met her husband Bob in Kentucky, and then moved with him to Alaska in the early 1950s. She detailed many adventures of those years in Territorial Alaska and early statehood in her memoir, "The Winter of The Orange Snow," such as bringing the first car to Bethel, electrifying rural Alaska by helping form the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, creating the Tundra Women's Coalition and advocating for the health and wellness of women and Alaska Natives. She was a teacher, pilot, storyteller, accidental trophy moose hunter, innkeeper and thrower of memorable theme parties that sometimes lasted for days. She would talk business, politics and world news for as long as anyone would let her, and she never missed a chance to play chess with anyone brave enough to take her on.

Whether in Bethel or in Alamos, Diane played an outsize role in her community. In the last year of her life, she completed her second memoir about her life in Stony River and the history of early electrification in rural Alaska. Additionally, she was recognized by the University of Houston for her role as a delegate from Alaska, in the 1977 National Women's Conference. She remained knowledgeable and passionate about world affairs as well as issues in her community.

Diane's archives are currently being digitized so that her experiences and achievements may never be forgotten.

Diane was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; daughter, Jeannie; and brothers, Doug Earley and Don "Buddy" Shain. She is survived by her daughters, Cathy (Fred) Janvrin, Lisa (Tim) Meyers and Julie Carpenter; son, Robert "Chip" (Donna) Carpenter; sister, Paula Easley; brothers, Rick Vollertsen and Steve Vollertsen; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.