Travis Martin Balch

1974 - 2014

The community of Salcha lost one of her lifelong sons on the evening of Aug. 18, 2014. Travis Martin Balch was a father, son, brother, friend and loved community member.
Born Jan. 27, 1974, to Lynx and Linda Balch, on a blistery winter night such as Fairbanks is infamous for, Travis' 40 years in the community of Salcha have been a blessing to many people. Surviving a birth defect to his heart and an infant open heart surgery using new procedures in Seattle, each one of Travis' days among his family, friends and community members was a gift from God.  
Travis spent his childhood on his family's Salcha homestead where he enjoyed building forts in the forest, riding bikes on a stretch of old highway with friends, fishing on the Little Salcha River, cruising on three-wheelers and four-wheelers, working in the family store, and spending time working on projects with his grandpa. He loved snowmachining, camping with his family and enjoying time outside and in nature.
He attended Salcha Elementary School and Ben Eielson Junior/Senior High School. He was part of the graduating class of 1992. He went on to attend a refrigeration school in Phoenix, Arizona. For three years he worked for Glacier Service in Fairbanks before coming to work for his family's business, Salcha Store and Service. 
Travis was married to Sadie Mac Scolman in 1998 and was the father of two children, Sara Jo and Kevin. In 2010 he took over ownership of Salcha Store and Service following the passing of his father.  Travis was known among his community peers to be hard-working, compassionate, generous, and always ready with a friendly smile. His absence from the community will leave a hole for both those who knew him well and those who knew him just as the good guy at the store where they routinely stopped for a soda, a candy bar and a few minutes of small talk.
Travis is survived by his mother and step-father, Linda Balch and Charles Liss; his two children, Sara Jo, 7, and Kevin, 5; his sister and brother-in-law, Heather and Travis Miller, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; and his two nephews, Dylan Miller, 9, and Cameron Miller, 7. He has many loved aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joe and Marie Balch, of Salcha, and Arden and Linda Groskreutz, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and his father, Lynx Balch, of Salcha.
A special service remembering the blessings of our time with Travis will be held at  4:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at First Baptist Church of North Pole.  A time for visiting and sharing with family and friends will be held after the service accompanied by light snacks and desserts.  
Please visit www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsminer to sign an online guest book.