James C. Dutcher

1920 - 2011

Longtime area resident James C. Dutcher passed away after a brief illness March 15, 2011, at the Veterans Hospital in Seattle with family at his side.
He was born in Peoria, Ill., on Jan. 31, 1920, to Egbert and Clara Dutcher. He married Lucinda (Babe) Bolt and this union produced two daughters, Ardean and Jane.
Jim enlisted in the Navy when the nation was thrown into a world war and was sent to electrical school at Purdue University. After graduating he was assigned to the submarine service in the Pacific and served aboard the USS Skate during World War II. Though he did not know it at the time, he became one of our greatest generation, serving his country in a time of need.
After the war he returned to Peoria but soon moved his family to the Yakima Valley in Washington. Eventually, when work became scarce he started traveling back and forth to Alaska. By 1956 he was a permanent resident of Fairbanks.
Jim worked on construction projects all over the state and soon was promoted to superintendent. He was asked to manage a project on the Pacific Island of Kwajalein and spent a few years there and on the archipelago of Truk. He returned to the Fairbanks area in the mid-'60s and continued his construction career until his retirement in the mid-'80s with one of his final projects the North Star Borough Building.
He left the state finding the Kent/Auburn area a comfortable place to reside. There he established his home with loving companion Betty Anderson and spent his retirement years making furniture for daughters and grandchildren.
Jim and Betty shared their lives until he contracted pneumonia which led to other symptoms that he could not overcome. Jim was a proud man and never asked or needed assistance. He remained independent and celebrated his 91st birthday six weeks before his demise.
Surviving members of Jim's family include longtime friend Betty Anderson, daughters and sons-in-law Ardean and Steve Belmont of Fairbanks and Jane and Pat Ellwood of Bothell, Wash.; grandsons, Scott, Patrick and Adam Ellwood of the Seattle area and Brad and Ron Hinote of Fairbanks; and his longtime friends, Derrall "Mac" McBirney Sr. of Fairbanks and Lyle West of Homer.
Jim had received his 70-year service pin from the Carpenters Union and was also a member of the Alaska Yukon Pioneers.
Jim requested no service and his cremains will be spread in the Fairbanks area.
May Jim rest in peace. His life has left an indelible impact on many others. He will be remembered.