Burton Fields

Burt, 81, was born November 3, 1931 to Wilmot O. and Ethel Mae (Major) Fields in Rochester, Michigan. He died January 09, 2013 at OHSU in Portland, OR, from lung cancer. He graduated from Rochester High School at the age of seventeen and turned down a four-year scholarship to Michigan State University in football as he wanted to serve his country. Due to his age, he continued to work at Great Oak Farms where he had since age ten, off and on.

In 1951, he enlisted in the US Air Force and served over twenty years, serving in both Korea and Vietnam. In 1962, at Elmendorf AFB, he received the Airman's Medal of Honor for saving millions of dollars of aircraft, equipment, and many lives, when he was the night supervisor, by salvaging a fuel truck that caught fire while being refueled. He jumped in the truck and drove it a safe distance from the hanger, shut off the fuel, and extinguished the flames. He then ran back to assist an airman who had also caught on fire during the refueling.

In 1955, he met Betty Soechting in New Braunfels, Texas, who became his wife and best friend. They married on September 04, 1955, and he was not only her husband but soul mate and rock, helping her for the past four years while she suffered poor health. They traveled extensively for the past fifteen years, as they were now retired and inseparable. In 2007, they moved from their long-time home in Chugiak, Alaska, after living there over 32 years, and moved to Mountain Rose Estates, a 55+ community, in Palmer, Alaska.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Shirley Fields; sisters Marie Stone, Aleen Roskilly, Joyce Clyne, and Maxine Fisher, brother-in-law LeeRoy Soechting of Seguin, Texas, and his great-grandson Seleah Theis. He is survived by his wife, best friend, and soul mate Betty J. Fields; his daughter and son-in-law Debora and John Hobbs; three grandsons Roderick Theis II (Cori), Jason W. Theis (Marjorie), and Shaun Selman, and six great-grandchildren Makya, Cora, Joshua, Wesley, Elise, and Gabriel, as well as sisters Betty and Hattie Thurau; sisters-in-law Virginia Masonis (Jerome) and Marciel Soechting, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Visitation is Monday, January 21st, from 4-7 p.m., at Janssen Evergreen Memorial Chapel, and service is Tuesday, January 22nd, 1 p.m., at Evergreen. Internment is at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. Please be at the Fort Richardson gate at approximately 1:45 p.m. to attend the military service prior to internment. Pall-bearers are Roderick Theis, Jason W. Theis, Shaun Selman, Joshua Theis, William Meierhofer, and Jerome Masonis II (alternate Wesley).

In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. John Lutheran Church in the memory of Burton C. Fields, PO Box 774, Palmer, AK 99645, or to a charity of your choice.