Ruth Elaine McCullough
Ruth Elaine “Lolly” McCullough, 87, of Homer, passed away peacefully on Jan. 6, 2016 at Long Term Care in Homer, Alaska.
Elaine was born in McPherson, Kan. on Sunday, Nov. 11, 1928 to Axel Leebert Bernard and Evelina Beda (Ledell) Johnson. She attended Elmdale Elementary, graduated from McPherson High School and received her degree from Wichita Business College. She married Don McCullough, after meeting him in Wichita in 1949. They had a son, Don, in 1950 before relocating back to McPherson.
Together, they moved to Homer in July of 1965. Elaine worked for approximately 16 years with Farmers Alliance Insurance, one year with Cessna Aircraft and 32 years with Homer Electric Association before retiring in 1994.
Elaine was always intelligent, well-respected and dedicated to her business endeavors. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother and grandmother who truly cared for her family and friends.
Ruth was preceded in death by husband Don McCullough in 1984 and parents, Leebert and Evelina.
She is survived by her son, Greg and wife, Carol of Homer; and grandchildren John and wife, Gretchen of Homer and Robert and Don Busby; great granddaughter, Emma Elaine McCullough of Homer; brother, Roland Johnson of McPherson, Kan. and niece, Alicia Johnson of San Francisco, Calif.
A celebration of life at Faith Lutheran Church will be planned at a later date. Please visit www.alaskanfuneral.com to offer condolences.
Longtime Ninilchik resident Michael R. Johnson, 67, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 at his home from natural causes.
Graveside services were held Monday, Feb. 8, at the American Legion Cemetery in Ninilchik.
Michael was born June 10, 1948 in Vancouver, Wash. He received his education at Bonney Lake Elementary in Seattle, and Reynolds High School in Portland, Ore. He also received education in the military and served as a chaplain.
Michael served in the U.S. Army 173rd Airborne from 1966-77. He served two tours in Vietnam, as well as in Germany and Seattle. He was awarded two purple hearts, the Vietnamese Medal of Honor and the Presidentís Commendation.
Michael moved to Alaska in 1977 and lived in Anchorage, where he worked as a chef at the Captain Cook Hotel. In 1986, he moved to Ninilchik, where he worked as a smoker chef for Deep Creek Custom Packing. He retired in 1989.
Michael was very recluse, especially this past year. He loved painting, and spent most of his time doing so. He was affected for life by his duty in the military both during Vietnam and after.
“Michael had a very difficult life with a lot of problems, some of which he brought on himself. He served for 11 years active duty and was very proud to be a soldier. After his military career, he worked in various hotels around the State of Alaska. He loved the arts and was a very happy individual. It will not be the same without him. He always helped everyone he could,” his family wrote.
Michael was preceded in death by sister, Kathy Johnson, brother, Bill Johnson and mother, Jean Berger.
He is survived by his son, Todd Hendricks of Yakima, Wash.; daughters, Rachael Johnson and Tammy Eversole, both of Raleigh, N.C., Starr Johnson of Seattle, Wash.; his father and stepmother, Frank and Colleen Berger of Bend, Ore.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jeff and Mary Berger of Ninilchik, and Joe and Connie Johnson of Bend, Ore.; sister and brother-in-law, Lynnette and Ed Hewitt of Wenatchee, Wash.; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.