Longtime Douglas, Alaska resident Alice E. (Rahier) Poor, 94, passed away peacefully in Seattle, King county, Washington, on October 17, 2012.
She was born in Effie, Itasca county, Minnesota, on June 22, 1918, the daughter of Joseph and Della Rahier.
Alice and her husband, Val, were married in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 29, 1939. After an extended honeymoon they traveled to Alaska and settled in Juneau. While her husband worked in the AJ gold mine Alice was busy helping to dismantle an old mining house in Thane that they had purchased for $50. Materials from this house were used to build their first house on Fifth Street in Douglas. Many local miners volunteered to help in building their home.
In 1943 Alice found herself working from 8 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week when she and Val purchased the Douglas Drug Store and Post Office. In 1975 she was honored as "Alaska's Outstanding Postal Employee". She was, also, an active member of Eastern Star, a member of Pioneers of Alaska, and was the last surviving charter member of the Douglas Community United Methodist Church. She loved her family, knew about hard work, and took pride in everything she did.
In 1976 she retired and spent 10 wonderful years traveling with her husband across the country in a fifth wheel making friends wherever they went. They would always return to their beach cabin on Lena Beach. Alice was, also, a major supporter of the Treadwell Ice Arena. The Arena Zamboni proudly displays her name.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Val and a daughter Della who died of whooping cough at the age of 11 months. She outlived her brothers Jack, Vince, Elwyn, and Doug Rahier and her sisters Beatrice Hastings and Dorothy Distel. Surviving family members are daughter Danna and sons Joe, Woody, Richard, and Bob. Alice has 11 loving grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
Alice's brother, Elwyn O. Rahier, was part of the ill-fated B-24A super-secret pre-WW-II spy mission. His aircraft was destroyed on the ground by the first bombs to fall on Hickam Field in Hawaii. Sgt. Rahier was wounded (near the Central Barracks?) but quickly returned to duty. His unit proceded to Townsville Australia. He may have participated in the rescue of Gen Douglas MacArthur and family, or the flight a week later that retrieved Philippine president Manuel Quezon and his family. Sgt. Rahier was lost later in 1942 when his B-17, "Chief Seattle", failed to return from a mission.
This website includes other photos of Alice E. Rahier's family back in MN:
One caption reads:
From left to right - Joseph "J. R." Rahier, his sister Valeria
Rahier Hill wife of Cecil Hill and their father George Rahier Sr.
J. R. Rahier was the father of Jack Rahier a Bigfork school teacher, Douglas "Dud" Rahier, Elwyn Rahier, lost over the Pacific in WWII, Alice Rahier Poor now in Alaska and only one remaining, Beatrice (Mrs. Bill Hastings), Dorothy who served in WWII and died a Dec 2006.
Valeria was mother to Frances, Maurice "Mutt", Grace, Norma Bunes, Art, Avonne Harrington, Evelyn Bemis. (Art, Evelyn and Norma are still living)
George Sr. was father to Annie Knotts (my grandmother), George Jr. (murdered in 1911), Susie Merrifield, J. F., Arthur, Valaria Hill.
Len Knotts, January 2008
Alice's ashes were placed next to her husband's at the Alaska Memorial Park in Juneau. A special memorial service was held at the Douglas Community United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 17, 2012.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Douglas Community United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 240509 Douglas, Alaska 99824.
Published in The Juneau Empire from October 24 to November 23, 2012
Obituary link from The Juneau Empire, 24 Oct 2012 to 23 Nov 2012
She was born in Effie, Itasca county, Minnesota, on June 22, 1918, the daughter of Joseph and Della Rahier.
Alice and her husband, Val, were married in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 29, 1939. After an extended honeymoon they traveled to Alaska and settled in Juneau. While her husband worked in the AJ gold mine Alice was busy helping to dismantle an old mining house in Thane that they had purchased for $50. Materials from this house were used to build their first house on Fifth Street in Douglas. Many local miners volunteered to help in building their home.
In 1943 Alice found herself working from 8 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week when she and Val purchased the Douglas Drug Store and Post Office. In 1975 she was honored as "Alaska's Outstanding Postal Employee". She was, also, an active member of Eastern Star, a member of Pioneers of Alaska, and was the last surviving charter member of the Douglas Community United Methodist Church. She loved her family, knew about hard work, and took pride in everything she did.
In 1976 she retired and spent 10 wonderful years traveling with her husband across the country in a fifth wheel making friends wherever they went. They would always return to their beach cabin on Lena Beach. Alice was, also, a major supporter of the Treadwell Ice Arena. The Arena Zamboni proudly displays her name.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Val and a daughter Della who died of whooping cough at the age of 11 months. She outlived her brothers Jack, Vince, Elwyn, and Doug Rahier and her sisters Beatrice Hastings and Dorothy Distel. Surviving family members are daughter Danna and sons Joe, Woody, Richard, and Bob. Alice has 11 loving grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
Alice's brother, Elwyn O. Rahier, was part of the ill-fated B-24A super-secret pre-WW-II spy mission. His aircraft was destroyed on the ground by the first bombs to fall on Hickam Field in Hawaii. Sgt. Rahier was wounded (near the Central Barracks?) but quickly returned to duty. His unit proceded to Townsville Australia. He may have participated in the rescue of Gen Douglas MacArthur and family, or the flight a week later that retrieved Philippine president Manuel Quezon and his family. Sgt. Rahier was lost later in 1942 when his B-17, "Chief Seattle", failed to return from a mission.
This website includes other photos of Alice E. Rahier's family back in MN:
One caption reads:
From left to right - Joseph "J. R." Rahier, his sister Valeria
Rahier Hill wife of Cecil Hill and their father George Rahier Sr.
J. R. Rahier was the father of Jack Rahier a Bigfork school teacher, Douglas "Dud" Rahier, Elwyn Rahier, lost over the Pacific in WWII, Alice Rahier Poor now in Alaska and only one remaining, Beatrice (Mrs. Bill Hastings), Dorothy who served in WWII and died a Dec 2006.
Valeria was mother to Frances, Maurice "Mutt", Grace, Norma Bunes, Art, Avonne Harrington, Evelyn Bemis. (Art, Evelyn and Norma are still living)
George Sr. was father to Annie Knotts (my grandmother), George Jr. (murdered in 1911), Susie Merrifield, J. F., Arthur, Valaria Hill.
Len Knotts, January 2008
Alice's ashes were placed next to her husband's at the Alaska Memorial Park in Juneau. A special memorial service was held at the Douglas Community United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 17, 2012.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Douglas Community United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 240509 Douglas, Alaska 99824.
Published in The Juneau Empire from October 24 to November 23, 2012
Obituary link from The Juneau Empire, 24 Oct 2012 to 23 Nov 2012
Longtime Douglas, Alaska resident Alice E. (Rahier) Poor, 94, passed away peacefully in Seattle, King county, Washington, on October 17, 2012.
She was born in Effie, Itasca county, Minnesota, on June 22, 1918, the daughter of Joseph and Della Rahier.
Alice and her husband, Val, were married in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 29, 1939. After an extended honeymoon they traveled to Alaska and settled in Juneau. While her husband worked in the AJ gold mine Alice was busy helping to dismantle an old mining house in Thane that they had purchased for $50. Materials from this house were used to build their first house on Fifth Street in Douglas. Many local miners volunteered to help in building their home.
In 1943 Alice found herself working from 8 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week when she and Val purchased the Douglas Drug Store and Post Office. In 1975 she was honored as "Alaska's Outstanding Postal Employee". She was, also, an active member of Eastern Star, a member of Pioneers of Alaska, and was the last surviving charter member of the Douglas Community United Methodist Church. She loved her family, knew about hard work, and took pride in everything she did.
In 1976 she retired and spent 10 wonderful years traveling with her husband across the country in a fifth wheel making friends wherever they went. They would always return to their beach cabin on Lena Beach. Alice was, also, a major supporter of the Treadwell Ice Arena. The Arena Zamboni proudly displays her name.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Val and a daughter Della who died of whooping cough at the age of 11 months. She outlived her brothers Jack, Vince, Elwyn, and Doug Rahier and her sisters Beatrice Hastings and Dorothy Distel. Surviving family members are daughter Danna and sons Joe, Woody, Richard, and Bob. Alice has 11 loving grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
Alice's brother, Elwyn O. Rahier, was part of the ill-fated B-24A super-secret pre-WW-II spy mission. His aircraft was destroyed on the ground by the first bombs to fall on Hickam Field in Hawaii. Sgt. Rahier was wounded (near the Central Barracks?) but quickly returned to duty. His unit proceded to Townsville Australia. He may have participated in the rescue of Gen Douglas MacArthur and family, or the flight a week later that retrieved Philippine president Manuel Quezon and his family. Sgt. Rahier was lost later in 1942 when his B-17, "Chief Seattle", failed to return from a mission.
This website includes other photos of Alice E. Rahier's family back in MN:
One caption reads:
From left to right - Joseph "J. R." Rahier, his sister Valeria
Rahier Hill wife of Cecil Hill and their father George Rahier Sr.
J. R. Rahier was the father of Jack Rahier a Bigfork school teacher, Douglas "Dud" Rahier, Elwyn Rahier, lost over the Pacific in WWII, Alice Rahier Poor now in Alaska and only one remaining, Beatrice (Mrs. Bill Hastings), Dorothy who served in WWII and died a Dec 2006.
Valeria was mother to Frances, Maurice "Mutt", Grace, Norma Bunes, Art, Avonne Harrington, Evelyn Bemis. (Art, Evelyn and Norma are still living)
George Sr. was father to Annie Knotts (my grandmother), George Jr. (murdered in 1911), Susie Merrifield, J. F., Arthur, Valaria Hill.
Len Knotts, January 2008
Alice's ashes were placed next to her husband's at the Alaska Memorial Park in Juneau. A special memorial service was held at the Douglas Community United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 17, 2012.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Douglas Community United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 240509 Douglas, Alaska 99824.
Published in The Juneau Empire from October 24 to November 23, 2012
Obituary link from The Juneau Empire, 24 Oct 2012 to 23 Nov 2012
She was born in Effie, Itasca county, Minnesota, on June 22, 1918, the daughter of Joseph and Della Rahier.
Alice and her husband, Val, were married in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 29, 1939. After an extended honeymoon they traveled to Alaska and settled in Juneau. While her husband worked in the AJ gold mine Alice was busy helping to dismantle an old mining house in Thane that they had purchased for $50. Materials from this house were used to build their first house on Fifth Street in Douglas. Many local miners volunteered to help in building their home.
In 1943 Alice found herself working from 8 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week when she and Val purchased the Douglas Drug Store and Post Office. In 1975 she was honored as "Alaska's Outstanding Postal Employee". She was, also, an active member of Eastern Star, a member of Pioneers of Alaska, and was the last surviving charter member of the Douglas Community United Methodist Church. She loved her family, knew about hard work, and took pride in everything she did.
In 1976 she retired and spent 10 wonderful years traveling with her husband across the country in a fifth wheel making friends wherever they went. They would always return to their beach cabin on Lena Beach. Alice was, also, a major supporter of the Treadwell Ice Arena. The Arena Zamboni proudly displays her name.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Val and a daughter Della who died of whooping cough at the age of 11 months. She outlived her brothers Jack, Vince, Elwyn, and Doug Rahier and her sisters Beatrice Hastings and Dorothy Distel. Surviving family members are daughter Danna and sons Joe, Woody, Richard, and Bob. Alice has 11 loving grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
Alice's brother, Elwyn O. Rahier, was part of the ill-fated B-24A super-secret pre-WW-II spy mission. His aircraft was destroyed on the ground by the first bombs to fall on Hickam Field in Hawaii. Sgt. Rahier was wounded (near the Central Barracks?) but quickly returned to duty. His unit proceded to Townsville Australia. He may have participated in the rescue of Gen Douglas MacArthur and family, or the flight a week later that retrieved Philippine president Manuel Quezon and his family. Sgt. Rahier was lost later in 1942 when his B-17, "Chief Seattle", failed to return from a mission.
This website includes other photos of Alice E. Rahier's family back in MN:
One caption reads:
From left to right - Joseph "J. R." Rahier, his sister Valeria
Rahier Hill wife of Cecil Hill and their father George Rahier Sr.
J. R. Rahier was the father of Jack Rahier a Bigfork school teacher, Douglas "Dud" Rahier, Elwyn Rahier, lost over the Pacific in WWII, Alice Rahier Poor now in Alaska and only one remaining, Beatrice (Mrs. Bill Hastings), Dorothy who served in WWII and died a Dec 2006.
Valeria was mother to Frances, Maurice "Mutt", Grace, Norma Bunes, Art, Avonne Harrington, Evelyn Bemis. (Art, Evelyn and Norma are still living)
George Sr. was father to Annie Knotts (my grandmother), George Jr. (murdered in 1911), Susie Merrifield, J. F., Arthur, Valaria Hill.
Len Knotts, January 2008
Alice's ashes were placed next to her husband's at the Alaska Memorial Park in Juneau. A special memorial service was held at the Douglas Community United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 17, 2012.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Douglas Community United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 240509 Douglas, Alaska 99824.
Published in The Juneau Empire from October 24 to November 23, 2012
Obituary link from The Juneau Empire, 24 Oct 2012 to 23 Nov 2012
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