Valerie Jean Nelson

Valerie Jean Blackburn Nelson of Fairbanks Alaska passed away on April 20, 2026. Born October 26, 1950 in Fairbanks, Alaska to Val Jean Blackburn and Hazel Aveoganna Blackburn. Jeannie was Iñupiaq and raised at Lake Minchumina, the largest lake in the Interior. Her Iñupiaq name was Tiggausina.

She grew up in the bush, driving dog teams, fishing nets, picking berries, and wearing rabbit parkas her mother hand-sewed, complimented with a wolverine ruff and mukluks. Jeannie called it a perfect life and she meant it.

She was married in the Idaho Falls Temple to Randy Leigh Nelson on February 20, 1971. Together they lived in Driggs, Idaho, Provo, Utah, Tanana, Alaska, Pinedale, Wyoming, Barrow, Alaska, and Fairbanks for the last 35 years while spending summers at Lake Minchumina.

Jeannie earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree from University of Alaska Fairbanks, then dedicated twenty years of her life to the classroom as an educator. As one of the few Native teachers, she was a role model to her students and was especially passionate about having other Natives become educators. Jeannie’s contributions went beyond school walls. She served the Fairbanks Native Association (FNA) for nine years as a board member as well as various other volunteer positions in the community.

Anyone who knew Jeannie will tell you the same thing: faith and family came first. Jeannie, along with her mother, two brothers and sister, were the first Inupiat Eskimos baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, to which she remained faithful all the days of her life. Serving in a variety of callings, she particularly loved being a Pathway Missionary with Randy for three years.

She raised three children and has seven grandchildren. Her happiest place was with her family at Lake Minchumina where she shared her culture and her love of that beautiful land. She lived by one motto: “I can do hard things.” At sixty-four years old she harvested her first moose, a sixty-one-inch bull. She survived cancer, aneurysm, stroke, covid, and sepsis until she finally succumbed to a massive stroke. For each set back, she was remarkable in her determination to overcome her trials. Jeannie was a woman of the land, a keeper of culture, a disciple of Christ, and a devoted mother and grandmother who made her family the center of everything she built.

Jeannie is survived by her husband of 55 years, Randy Nelson, children Tonya (Jon) Isom, Syra (Dan) Beistline, and Ethan Nelson, her seven grandchildren, a great granddaughter, as well as brothers Rodney and Jonathon Blackburn, Darryl and Robert Thompson, and sisters Carol Lee Gho and Dixie Dayo. Jeannie was preceded in death by parents Hazel Dayo and Val Blackburn, and stepfather Stanley Dayo.

Funeral Services - Saturday April 25th with public viewing with friends at 2:00 followed by the memorial service at 3:00 at 1500 Cowles Street, Fairbanks, AK.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Lake Minchumina Traditional Council mailed to 181 Wellington Lane, Alamo, CA 94507 or Zelle @ [email protected]