Susan Harper
Aug 11, 1956 -
Oct 10, 2026
Susan Margaret Harper passed away on Oct. 10, 2026, after a brief but incredibly courageous battle with cancer. Susan was born to Pat and James Lichau on Aug. 11, 1956 in Santa Rosa, California. After graduating from Mapleton High School in 1974, her yearning for adventure first led her to the shores of Hawaii before ultimately being drawn to the infinite mountains and abundant oceans of Alaska.
She truly found her home in Ketchikan, Alaska - a land that nourished her adventurous soul and filled her with an awe and excitement that propagated throughout the remainder of her life. It was there that she met a coast guard serviceman by the name of Stephen Harper that would, unbeknownst to her, become the love of her life.
Susan and Stephen married on Dec. 20, 1975, which is perhaps an important clue as to why Susan so avidly and enthusiastically celebrated the holiday season. Nearly 2 years to the day later, they welcomed their first child, Nicole Michelle, who would from then on be Susan's best friend for the rest of her years. After returning to Oregon for a short time in the early '80s, Susan gave birth to her first son, Taylor Justin, whose curiosity and energy often tested the limits of maternal patience, but she constantly encouraged his exploration of the world all the same. Not long after, her soul was called back to Alaska, where she was meant to be, and gave birth to her second son, Travis Dustin. The kindness in his heart was surely Susan's gift to him at birth, modeled exactly after her own. Travis's penchant for catching frogs began a lifelong fondness of the amphibians for Susan.
She raised her children in what she called "god's country." Where the people were kind, the air was pure and adventure was at your doorstep. She never missed a baseball game, concert or awards assembly and would drop everything to be there for her kids, 100% of the time. She never met someone she couldn't strike up a conversation with and was fiercely loyal and protective of her family.
Though she spent most of her career working in healthcare administration, she was most at home as a deckhand fishing for Alaska's bounty, as she did for many summers. When she wasn't on a boat, she and Steve were off exploring the far reaches of the Last Frontier in their "goofy" trailer. She would openly admit that those days camping with Steve and their friends were the best days of her life.
The only thing that rivaled her love of exploration was the flower gardens that were ubiquitous at every home she ever lived. It was her conduit to the earth that she felt so intrinsically connected to, and it was evident in the vibrancy of her flower beds. It was the perfect reflection of her soul - beautiful and wonderful.
She was preceded in death by Stephen Harper; and is survived by her loving children, Nicole, Taylor and Travis; and six grandchildren, Kasey, Marilyn, Mayan, Evelyn, Paige and Hadley.
Her ashes will be laid to rest next to the love of her life, Stephen, on Nov. 11, at 1 p.m., at Eastside Memorial Park in Minden, Nev.
