Lindley Harris "Ketch" Ketchum

Mar 12, 1923 -

Oct 25, 2024

Lindley, better known as "Ketch," was born on March 12, 1923. He grew up in Readyville, Idaho, on his parent's homestead milking cows, digging a lot of postholes and riding horses bare-back. School with his three older brothers was in a one-room schoolhouse with a long walk down the dirt road in summer and winter.

The Great Depression forced the family to California by 1938, and on Dec. 7, 1941, the news of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was heard on the family Philco radio. America was at war.

Lindley was 19 and didn't waste time. He married his high school sweetheart, Marguerite. That union lasted for the next 82 years. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and graduated with his 2nd Lieutenant wings. His fellow officers nicknamed him "Ketch," which stuck for the rest of his life. Ketch flew the Curtiss C-46 Commando in the South Pacific War theater and was in Okinawa on Aug. 15, 1945, when Japan surrendered. His war was over.

After the war he served in Germany, flying the Berlin Airlift in Douglas C-54 aircraft and then crewing in the Convair Peacemaker B-36 with the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War. He ended his United States Air Force career flying the Lockheed jet fighter trainer the T-33, called the T-Bird, retiring as a Major after 22 years of service.

Like many Alaskans before him, he and Marguerite loaded up the family, children Steven, Craig and Nancy, in an Airstream trailer, and headed up the Alcan Highway to Alaska for a short visit that lasted for the next 50 years.

Soon he and Marguerite founded Ketchum Air Service at Lake Hood and clients included hunters, fishermen, North Slope oil field exploration crews, flight-seeing tourists and more. Their logo was "Come on, let's go fishing!" Ketch authored two books under his pen name, Ketch Ketchum, that documents some of those adventures.

In May 2024, Ketch lost his partner, Marguerite, of 82 years. He worked hard to overcome this void and was an inspiration to all the family. He died peacefully on Oct. 25, 2024. The family is thankful for all the kindness of friends, neighbors and the folks at Providence Hospital who made his last days comfortable.