The following are a few of the many persons included in Alaskan history who reside in their final resting places at Angelus Memorial Park or Valley Memorial Park. Unfortunately, we are unable to list all of the persons here who have helped make Alaskan history as varied and colorful as it is. We are thankful for their contributions and desire to learn of others buried here who have shaped our state and our cities.

Angelus Memorial Park

Decema Kimball-Andresen-Slawson ( 1906 - 2002)
Decema was born in Seward, Alaska. She arrived in Anchorage in 1915 at the young age of 9. Her parents, Irving and Della Kimball, bought the property for Kimball's Dry Goods at Fifth Avenue and E Street in the first town site auction of that same year. It still stands on what is currently the northwest corner of what is now known as Town Square. She continued to own and operate this business after her mother's death in 1958 until about 1998. Her business is the oldest continuously operating business in Anchorage. Presently, it is the only private land and structure on a square block of city park. Decema was also a pilot and a hunter who enjoyed her state.

Vivian Ayerst (1908-2002)
Mrs. Ayerst came to Alaska in the 1930's as part of a string trio on the Alaska Steamship line between Seward and Seattle. She played the violin in four symphony orchestras: Tacoma, Olympia, Phoenix and Anchorage. For over 30 years she was in the first violin section of the Anchorage Symphony, much of that time serving as Concert Mistress. During her later years she played with the Borealis String Quartet in the Anchorage area. She was a member of the Anchorage Baha`i Center. She typed the entire manuscript for High Endeavors before the days of computers.

James Jorgen Johnson (1919-1958)
Mr. Johnson, known as "The Screaming Swede," was raised in the Alaska Peninsula - Aleutian Island - Kodiak area. As Captain of BSP511 in the U. S. Army, Jimmy rescued 400 passengers and crew members aboard the Steamship "Yukon" which ran aground east of Seward in 1946 during a blinding snowstorm. For his act of heroism, Jimmy received medal at Ft. Richardson, Alaska. After leaving the military, Jimmy was a fisherman around Cook Inlet. He died as he had lived, wild, woolly and one superior Alaskan boatman.

Larry Allan Beck (1935-1990)
Mr. Beck was a performer who worked to promote tourism to the 49th state. That work led to his appointment by Governor Keith Miller in 1972 as "Alaska's Ambassador of Good Will." He was not only a performer of the first rank but was also an authority on Alaska, the North and its gold rush history. He had a career of writing, reciting, singing, recording and traveling the world over. He wrote 6 books of poetry, recorded eight audiotapes and completed over 10 documentary films on various historical interests of Alaska. He was also in the first graduating class for West Anchorage High School.

Phil R. Holdsworth (1910-2001)
Mr. Holdsworth came to Alaska in 1913. He and his wife Peggie were married in Fairbanks in 1942. He became mill Superintendent of Mindanao Mines in Surigao. In 1942 Gen. Douglas MacArthur ordered our Philippine troops to surrender. Mr. Holdsworth resigned his commission as a second lieutenant and with his wife Peggie conducted guerilla activities with the locals against the Japanese. They were captured on July 1, 1942 and were held prisoners until February 3, 1945. In 1952 Mr. Holdsworth assumed the position of Commissioner of Mines for the state of Alaska and with statehood in 1959, Phil assumed the position of Commissioner of Natural Resources where he was largely responsible for the selection of Prudhoe Bay for state lands. Later, he was president of the state Chamber of Commerce, Alaska State Elks and the Alaska Miner's Association.

Leonora Weaver (1909-2002)
Leonora came to Alaska in 1951. She settled in Fairbanks and later moved to Anchorage and bought and operated the White Spot Café. She cooked and served burgers until she was 90 years old. Her business was famous in Anchorage and was known as "the home town place to eat." Leonora was a kind lady and is remembered for being "spunky" and "doing things her way."

Richard Austin "Dick" Tozier (1931-1993)
Mr. Tozier was a veteran dog musher. He served on the board of directors of the Alaska Sled Dog Racing Association beginning in 1958. For 35 years he was race marshal for the club's premier event, the Anchorage Fur "Rondy." He also served as marshal for the inaugural run of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race 1974 and was an Iditarod board member. Dick was known for his way with dogs and horses and was president of the Chugach Range Riders Club from 1975 until his death

Max N. LaLande.(1912-1999)
Max was born to be a baker and in 1942 he brought his skill to Alaska. He became a contractor to the military during WWII and kept our troops sustained with baked goods. Later, in Kodiak, he started several businesses which culminated in Kodiak Bakery. Max moved to Anchorage in 1958 and ran Tudor Market until he retired. After his retirement, the Anchorage Pioneer's Home was the beneficiary of his white thumb for the next 19 years. He loved to tell how he obtained vintage 1880 sourdough from Sourdough Ed in the Aleutians in 1942 and continued to use it for many years thereafter.

Irene E. Ryan (1909-1997)
Irene was a geological engineer who resided in Anchorage between 1931-1932. After leaving the state, she returned to Alaska in 1941 and became a permanent resident. She served as a geological exploration and survey consultant for private and public agencies. Irene served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1955-1959 and as an Alaska State Senator from 1959-1961. She served the state in a number of different positions such as State Commissioner of Economic Development and Planning, executive secretary of Yukon Power for America which promoted the Rampart Dam in1963, Governor's Advisory Reapportionment Board in 1961 and she was a Member of the American Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Engineers. Irene held memberships in groups such as the Society of Women Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Advancement of Science, the Arctic Institute and the National Association of Geology Teachers.

Harry O. Arend (1903-1966)
Judge Arend was in private practice in Fairbanks. He served as District Attorney in Fairbanks from 1937-1944, as U.S. district attorney in the 4th Judicial Division in Fairbanks from1944-1949. He also served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Justice Department in the anti-trust division, as Superior Court Judge and as an Alaska Supreme Court Justice.

Valley Memorial Park

Princess Wah Nese Red Rock (1913-1988)
Princess Red Rock was the daughter of the last chief of the Ojibway Totem tribe of Canada. She was an Indian rights activist, a singer and an actress who appeared in the movie, "The Last of the Mohicans." Princess Red Rock attended the Eastman School of Music and went on to sing professionally as a member of the St. Louis Opera Company. She was billed as one of America's top Indian singers. The highlight of her career was singing at the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration in 1944.

Edward J. Fortier (1917-2001)
Mr. Fortier was stationed in Ketchikan in 1942 with the U.S. Army. He served in the Counter-Intelligence Corps and was Alaska's last living spy to have served in Alaska during WWII. Edward Fortier, also known as "Fast Eddie" or "Champy," was one of Alaska's leading journalists and editors. During his 58 years in Alaska, Mr. Fortier's career ranged from being the Director of Territorial Civil Defense to Hospital Administrator at Providence Hospital. He served on the first Alaska Big Game Guide Board. Professionally, his passion was writing and editing. He was executive editor of Alaska Magazine from 1966-1976 and author of the book One Survived. He was a former correspondent for the National Observer and reporter for the Anchorage Times between 1946 and 1948. During the same period of time, he produced and edited the weekly tabloid, "The 49th Star."