Alice Demientieff

Aug 19, 1932 -

Nov 12, 2023

Alice Sarah Demientieff passed away peacefully on Nov. 12, 2023, at the age of 91.

Alice was born near the Nushagak River on Aug. 19, 1932. Up until she was 8 years old, she lived with her parents and siblings. When her mom became sick, Alice and her siblings were sent to the Holy Cross Mission because her dad had to work and couldn't care for them. She spent 10 years at the mission, working very hard everyday. Some of her chores included taking care of the younger children, cleaning, sewing, gardening and working at fish. She also picked berries where, in 1950, she picked the most berries: 45 pounds in six hours.

The mission was also where she met the love of her life. In 1950, she married Luke Demientieff; she was widowed after 72 years of marriage. They raised eight children, lived in Holy Cross a few years then moved to Bethel for better job opportunities. After 14 years in Bethel, they moved back to Holy Cross, where they retired. In both places, they lived a life of subsistence. They fished and were known for their delicious smoked salmon strips. They also hunted and trapped for many years. Alice produced an amazing garden, which provided fresh produce for her family. She cooked delicious meals and was known for her baking skills. She baked the best cinnamon rolls that the neighbors could smell a mile away! As soon as she pulled them out of the oven, the neighborhood was at her door!

Alice was an excellent seamstress. She was always at her sewing machine sewing new clothes for her children, taking orders from people to make them down feather parkas and making down feather blankets to keep her family warm. Later on, she took up cross-stitching, and made each of her kids beautiful cross-stitch blankets.

Alice lived a full life, was a very strong, clever person; she was so very wise. She will be missed immensely.

She is predeceased by her husband, Luke; and son, Dean; parents, Al and Molly (Bidluska) Withrow; brothers, Al Jr. and Jim Withrow; sisters, Irene Irwin and Gladys Carter; and grandsons, Rodney Demientieff and Garrett Nielson.

She leaves behind her sons, Leonard (Julie), Ronald (Adrienne), Luke Jr. (Sandra) and Dwayne; daughters, Joyce (Bucko), Wanda (Bill) and Pearl (John); 30 grandchildren; and 44 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Dec. 6, 2023, at St. Patrick's Parish Visitation/Rosary, at 2 p.m., with Services at 2:30 p.m., and potluck to follow.