OBITUARIES OF ALASKA'S PIONEERS (U - Z) As extracted from "END OF THE TRAIL" a feature article of Alaska - The Magazine of Life on the Last Frontier William Morris III, Publisher and Ken Marsh, Editor Editorial and Advertising Main Offices 4220 B St., Suite 210 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 Extracted and contributed by Melanie Cox , with permission expressly granted by Ken Marsh, Editor - Beginning April 5, 1997 USGenWeb Project NOTICE In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. For specific word searches, use the "Find" or "Search" feature of your browser. End of the Trail Courtesy of Alaska - The Magazine of Life on the Last Frontier Founded in 1935 as The Alaska Sportsman Notices are limited, because of space, to names of those who have achieved pioneer status through many years in the North, or who have made significant contributions to the state. (Items in parenthesis added by Melanie Cox to indicate year of death and edition date of magazine in which the extracted article can be found.) SURNAME INDEX: VAUGHAN thru YRJANA VAUGHAN, CHRIS 82, a former Skagway resident, died March 24 (1995) at the Juneau Pioneers' Home. She and her late husband, Bob, first came to Alaska in the 1960s to manage the Mount McKinley Park Hotel. "Mom was a true pioneer, the first person cremated in Juneau. She would have liked that," said her son, Jim. (8/95) VISAYA, BESSIE E. 97, died Jan. 9 (1996) at the Juneau Pioneers' Home. A matriarch of the Aukwaan Tribe, she was a lifetime member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood and actively supported the Alaska Native Brotherhood in the fight for land claims, and also worked to end the segregation of Natives from public facilities. (5-6/96) VOGLER, JOE - A miner, land developer and founder of the Alaska Independence Party, was 80 years old when he disappeared in 1993. After 16 months of investigation, his body was unearthed from a shallow grave near Fairbanks on Oct. 12 (1994). A Fairbanks man was indicted in December for his murder. Born in a sod dugout on the plains of Kansas, Vogler was 28 when he arrived in Alaska in 1942. Although armed with a law degree from the University of Kansas, he worked construction on the military bases, first at Kodiak, later in interior Alaska. He worked hard, and his estate includes extensive real estate holdings around Fairbanks and mining claims in other parts of the Interior. Vogler was an outspoken critic of government and advocated Alaska's secession from the Union. He made war on his neighbors, local government and the state, sometimes appearing in court as his own lawyer. He saved his most spectacular verbal volleys for federal officials, especially those of the Park Service who imposed control on his mining and land development activities. When his admirers looked at him, they saw John Wayne on a D-8 Cat-a no-nonsense, stand-up guy with the guts to take on the feds 24 hours a day. He was not a Bircher or even a conservative. Sometimes-when he called for local hire, job training and better house- he even sounded like a socialist. He also was unusually tolerant of the difficulties young people face. Vogler made three unsuccessful bids for governor under the Alaskan Independence banner. His last appearance on Alaska's political stage was in 1990, when he lent the Alaska Independence Party to former Gov. Wally Hickel so Hickel would have a spot on the general election ballot. At his request, Vogler will be buried in Canada, beyond reach of Washington bureaucrats. - with Michael Carey Anchorage Daily News. [photo] (2/95) WADE, HUGH 93, Alaska’s first lieutenant governor, died March 25 (1995) in Juneau. He served as Gov. Bill Egan’s secretary of state (later retitled lieutenant governor) from 1959 to 1966. He practiced law briefly in Omaha, Neb., prior to coming to Alaska in 1926 as head of the FBI in Alaska. He was a member of the first group of FBI agents recruited and trained by J. Edgar Hoover. (7/95) WALKER, EARL L. 80, died April 6 (1995) in Petersburg. Arriving in Ketchikan in 1937, Walker became one of the original investors and pilots of Temsco Helicopters. In 1966, he moved to Petersburg to open Temsco operations there. (8/95) WEAR, DORIS P. 87, died July 16 (1996) in Fairbanks. Wear moved to Alaska in 1954, settling in the Fairbanks area. She taught school on Fort Wainwright for several years before retiring in 1971. Wear hosted wonderful yard parties at her historic home, inviting university, community and military families. She was active in P.E.O. Chapter B, the Top of the World Garden Club and the retired teachers sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma. (11/96) WEISS, WILLIAM L. 74, died Dec. 4 (1995) in Ketchikan. He moved to Ketchikan in 1949 to work for The Alaska Sportsman (now Alaska magazine). He retired in the mid-19808s from the Ketchikan Daily News as purchasing agent and mechanical supervisor. He was honored throughout Southeast for his service to young people, which included writing stories and taking photographs of youth sport events for the Daily News. (3/96) WENNERSTROM, VIOLET "MAE" 90, died Feb. 8 (1996) in Anchorage. Wennerstrom came with her family to Anchorage in 1916 to join her father, an engineer on the Alaska Railroad. She worked as a bookkeeper, stenographer, and as a medical and legal secretary. She loved the outdoors, dancing and entertaining. Wennerstrom also loved gardening, picking berries, and was a member of Pioneers of Alaska. (9/96) WEST, BERNA 77, a lifelong resident of the Juneau-Douglas area, died Oct. 26 (1994) at the Juneau Pioneers' Home. When the State Office Building opened in Juneau, she was the first and only switchboard operator for many years. (3/95) WESTFALL, MARY 90, died Dec. 25 (1995) at the Juneau Pioneers' Home. She moved in 1941 to Juneau, where she was well known for her art work, especially her oil paintings. She also taught art to many Juneau residents. (5-6/96) WHITE, HELEN ARNOLD 89, a writer, editor and naturalist, died Oct. 1 (1994) in Anchorage. As an editor for Alaska Northwest Publishing Co., she worked on issues of The Milepost and Alaska, and on the books, Cooking Alaskan and The Wild Berry Guide and Cookbook. Her own publications included a book, Alaska-Yukon Wild Flowers Guide. In 1988 the publishers of Alaska magazine commissioned her to write Cabin Cookbook, of which more than 50,000 copies have been printed. White often used the pseudonym "The Old Homesteader" in her later writings. (2/95) WICKSTROM, ELLEN T. 95, died Dec. 5 (1995) at the Fairbanks Pioneers' Home. Wickstrom emigrated from Sweden to Seattle in 1922 with seven other young people, including her future husband, Emil. She lived and worked in many gold mining communities, finally settling in Ester. She was well known for her cooking. In their younger years, she and Emil were avid polka dancers. (4/96) WIKLUND, ARON M. 97, a pioneer Alaskan and meticulous carpenter, died Aug. 26 (1994) in Seward, his home for 68 years. Born in Sweden, he became a U.S. citizen in 1932; he always voted and kept current on local, state and national news. He loved gardening and was an avid sportsman, catching a 57-pound king salmon on the Kenai Peninsula when he was 87. (2/95) WILBUR, DOROTHY (WREDE) 85, died Nov. 27 (1995) in Fairbanks. Born in Fairbanks, she and her first husband, Raymond Wrede, mined in the Circle District and later were partners in College Cleaners in Fairbanks. Widowed in 1965, she was crowned Queen regent by the Pioneers of Alaska for the Golden Days city festival. She later married her King regent, the late Alden Wilbur, a widower, whom she had known since grade school. Wilbur was recognized by many for her beautiful white hair and color-coordinated clothing. (4/96) WILD, BETTE A. 75, died Feb. 20 (1996) at Valley Hospital in Palmer. Born in Nevada, she earned two bachelor's degrees, one in nursing and one in biology, as well as a master's degree in education. She worked for the Anchorage School District from 1962 until 1984, retiring as the health services coordinator. She helped organize Alaska's Camp Fire Inc., which awarded her the Gulick Award for 20 years of dedicated service. (7/96) WILLARD, WESLEY J. 67, a man of many talents, died Nov. 21 (1994) in Haines. A lifelong Chilkat Valley resident, Willard performed with the Chilkat Dancers in the United States, Europe and Japan. He was a master totem carver, demonstrating at the 1964 New York World's Fair and the 1966 Los Angeles County Fair. He could play any musical instrument by ear, had a tenor voice and, according to his family, few of his female friends will forget his versatility on the dance floor. (3/95) WILLIAMS, ESTHER 92, died May 29 (1995) in Anchorage. Born into an Alaska pioneer family, she was raised in Juneau, lived in Cordova and then in Anchorage. Her family, including her husband, operated the Anchorage Laundry and Cleaners. (9/95) WILLIAMS, EVA 89, who was honored as a Fairbanks African-American pioneer, died Sept. 16 (1994) in Fairbanks. She moved to Alaska in 1943, and owned several businesses, including the Fairbanks Beauty School, where she trained many beauticians over the years. Her interview and portrait were included in Jean Lester's 1988 book, Faces of Alaska. (2/95) WISE, EDNA 82, known for years as the "Cat Lady," for taking in hundreds of cats during her time in Fairbanks, died March 13 (1995) in Fairbanks. In 1971 she co-founded Pet Pride, a group that finds homes for pets. Wise also taught acrobatics, tap and ballet. (7/95) WENNERSTROM, VIOLET "MAE" 90, died Feb. 8 (1996) in Anchorage. Wennerstrom came with her family to Anchorage in 1916 to join her father, an engineer on the Alaska Railroad. She worked as a bookkeeper, stenographer, and as a medical and legal secretary. She loved the outdoors, dancing and entertaining. Wennerstrom also loved gardening, picking berries, and was a member of Pioneers of Alaska. (9/96) WRIGHT, LAURA World-famous parka maker Laura Belle Beltz Hagberg Wright, 87, died Feb. 22 (1996) in Anchorage. Wright designed and patented Laura Wright Alaska Parkys, an original winter parka that won numerous awards including Best Costume in a Miss Universe Pageant. Her parkas also caught the eyes of several celebrities. Notable clients included Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Ricky Nelson, Shirley Jones and Burl Ives. Born in Candle, Wright later moved to Haycock. In 1926 she marred John Albert Hagberg. The couple lived a busy, happy life, operating a gold mine and raising their six children, eventually moving to Fairbanks so the children could attend high school. After John Hagberg died in 1948, she married Dallas A. Wright in 1951. In 1971, they moved to Anchorage to open their downtown parka shop. Dallas Wright died in 1981. As a member of the World War II Tundra Army in Alaska's Territorial Guard, Wright proved to be a sharp shooter: During a training drill she hit the bull's-eye 49 out of 50 times. She also delivered the U.S. mail by dog team, delivered babies, conducted funerals, and was involved in community activities. The Alaska Federation of Natives named her "Most Outstanding Living Eskimo," and she was listed in Who's Who of American Women in 1967. She also was nominated for the Alaska Mother of the Year award in 1968. Wright was described by a family friend, the Rev. William Warren, as living a life that was "more unbelievable than a novel," "She had a compassion for placing others' needs before her own," her family said. "Her cheerful heart and home were always open. She was an inspiration to all who knew her." -- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner [photo] (7/96) YAGER, FRED 81, died Dec. 14 (1995) in Arizona. He came to Anchorage in 1946, and had worked for Anchorage Cold Storage, Alaska Maid Potato Chip Co., Carnation Ice Cream Co., and for Matanuska Maid Dairy. (4/96) YATES, JOHN DONALD 81, died May 22 (1996) in Anchorage. Born in Missouri, Yates moved to Alaska in 1950 with wife Ethelyn. The couple owned and operated one of Anchorage's earliest drive-up cafes, "the Sadshack." Yates also worked as chief building inspector for the Municipality of Anchorage, retiring in 1975. He was a master woodworker, and enjoyed boating and fishing. (9/96) YOUNG, MARY LAVINA 101, formerly of Cordova, died Dec. 31 (1995) in Minnesota. In 1934, Young moved to Cordova, where she owned and operated her own dairy farm for 19 years. She often said that she missed life in the old days. "I think it was a lot better when we all looked out for one another," she said in a 1981 interview. (8/95) YOUNG, RETHA M. 85, known as a hard worker, died March 20 (1995) in Montana. Arriving in Haines in 1944, she began a 40-year career as postmaster. "There has never been any two days alike," Young said of the job upon retiring in 1983. (9/95) YRJANA, ALBERT 86, died Jan. 17 (1996) in Fairbanks. Coming to Alaska in 1937, he settled in Ruby, where he worked 25 years in state road maintenance, and owned a sawmill and a freight line. Considered a master trapper, he and his wife, Dolly, ran a 100-mile trapline by dogsled for many years. He was featured in several magazines and the book Faces of Alaska, Vol. 2. (5-6-/96) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - As extractions are added to these pages, they will be kept in alphabetical order. When the volume of data becomes too large for the current pages, it will be divided into additional pages, as size dictates, and an alphabetical index will be maintained as part of the AKGenWeb Archive Table of Contents.