Sharon G. Prien

Jan 10, 1949 -

Jan 24, 2023

Sharon Gail (McPartland) Prien, 74, passed away on Jan. 24, 2023, at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, from complications of multiple myeloma. Sharon was born in Aberdeen, S.D., on Jan. 10, 1949, to Florian J.and Fern B. (Fortin) McPartland of Conde, S.D. She was raised on a farm east of Conde with four younger brothers. She was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother.

Sharon is preceded in death by her parents; eldest brother, Richard McPartland; and father-in-law, Henry H Prien of Tripp, S.D. She is survived by her husband, of 51 years, Richard L. Prien; brothers, Grant (Anne) McPartland, Jerrry (Deb) McPartland and Norbert (Janet) Mcpartland; children, Jamison (Angela) Prien and Angela (James) DiFronzo; grandchildren, Lauren and Andrew Prien and Paige and Ethan DiFronzo; and mother-in-law, Rose Prien. And of course, cousin Belva, the sister she never had.

Her education started at Conde Public School and then on to Presentation College and Northern State College in Aberdeen, graduating with a bachelor's degree in education in 1971. Though teaching was not to be, she kept busy being the best mom ever and a supportive military wife. She attended the University of New Mexico to renew her teaching certificate and, after moving to Eagle River, Alaska, in 1983, was a substitute teacher with Anchorage Public Schools. Her career in public service started as a library technician at the Base Library, and then with Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, in their Resources Library. As the interlibrary loan specialist she developed the reputation as the person who could find any information her customers might need. She retired on Dec. 31, 2019.

She had a creative gene that popped in many areas - restoring antique furniture, sewing, pen and ink drawing, oil painting, quilting and two of her favorites, "working dirt" and crocheting. She made COVID-19 masks during the pandemic, and crocheted hundreds of premie hats for the NICU at Providence and Alaska Regional Hospitals. She also crocheted dozens of prayer shawls with the St. Andrews group for distribution to friends, relatives or anyone they knew that was ailing.

A Funeral Mass, with Father Arthur Roroff officiating, will be held at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Eagle River, on Feb. 24, 2023, at 11 a.m., with live-streaming on the St. Andrews Facebook page for those relatives and friends who cannot attend. Interment will be at Ft. Richardson National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N., Seattle, WA 98109; 206-667-4399.