Arne Beltz

Arne Louise Bulkeley Beltz, 95, passed away at home on February 1, 2013. Arne was born, October 27, 1917 in Little Falls, New York. She graduated from Rhinebeck High School in 1934, Middlebury College in 1938 and the Yale School of Nursing in 1942. She worked in the Visiting Nurse Service in New York City and Georgia until 1944. Then she served as an Army Nurse in WWII stationed in the Philippines. She moved to Wrangell, Alaska in 1948 and lived and worked in various communities in Alaska: Kake and Angoon from 1950-1952, Fairbanks from 1952-1957, Unalakleet from 1957-1960 and finally to Anchorage in 1960. It was in Fairbanks that Arne married William Beltz on November 28, 1953. Both were interested in the welfare of the Alaskan people, he as a State Senator and she as a traveling public health nurse. They had four children, Mark, William, Kathy, and Axel. Upon her husband's untimely death in 1960, Arne moved to Anchorage to raise her children. She worked in the Health Department and eventually became the Division Manager of Physical Health in Anchorage from 1981 to 1984 when she retired. Foremost among her many honors, the Health Department Building in downtown Anchorage was named for her in 1990. More recently she is an inductee into the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame class of 2013.

She was a member of the First Covenant Church and their Mother's and Other's group, as well as her beloved writers group.

Arne enjoyed gardening, reading, writing and being active in the community. She was proud to be a part of Citizens Against Nuclear War. She opened her home and heart to many people and many people think of her as their mother. Arne was admired for her grace, wit and strength. She is survived by her son William Beltz; granddaughters Stephanie Beltz and Bree Avellaneda(Ron); grandson David Beltz; great grandsons Marco and Leonardo Avellaneda; stepdaughters Wanda and Caroline Beltz; nephews Peter, David, and Jonathan Bulkeley; and niece Susan Daly.

Arne is preceded in death by her sons Mark and Axel Beltz; daughter Katherine Beltz, brother Peter Bulkeley, sisters Judy Bulkeley, Grace Bulkeley and Marjorie Garwood; husband William Beltz; father Dr. Howard Sheldon Bulkeley; and mother Alice Maclean Bulkeley.

A memorial service will take place Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at the First Covenant Church, 1145 C Street. A potlatch will follow the service. Arne will be laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date. Memorial Bequests may be made to the First Covenant Church.

Arrangements were with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel; www.janssenfuneralhomes.com.