Archie Bindara

Longtime Tazlina resident Archie Ruben Bindara, 79, died March 18, 2010, at Providence Alaska Medical Center.

His family said he "passed away to be with the Lord."

Visitation is at 7 p.m. today at Tazlina Hall, with a funeral at Glennallen Community Chapel at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be at the family cemetery, 20 Mile.

Archie was born July 3, 1930, in Hoquiam, Wash., to Evelyn and Ruben Bindara. Intrigued by Alaska from childhood, he jumped at the chance to visit his uncle. He met and fell in love with his wife, Mary Marshall, and they recently shared their 60th anniversary. He felt as if he found his true home with the people of the Copper River Valley. One of his proudest moments came when he was adopted into the Ahtna Athabaskan Tribe.

He had numerous other jobs before going to work for the State of Alaska. He happily retired after working 20 years and 20 days as an operating engineer on the Seward Road out of Hope. He cared for his wife, Mary, until she moved into assisted living in Anchorage, visiting often. Archie was an avid fisherman and hunted all his life. He would have been content to completely live off the land. He spent many hours carving diamond willow into works of art. He built their home in Tazlina and two previous log cabins. Archie served as deacon for Lake Spenard Baptist Church and was serving as deacon at the Tazlina Fellowship.

He was a fiercely independent person, working hard all his life to support his family. He was a devoted husband, father and friend, and will be missed by all who loved and knew him.

Archie is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Carolyn Craig, of Anchorage, Violet Fichter, of Auburn, Wash., Diane Cronin, of Olympia, Wash., Sharon Mack, of Anchorage; and sister, Virginia Fromm, of Olympia. He was so proud of his seven grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Evelyn Clark; father, Ruben Bindara; and grandsons, Jason Mahler and John Craig II.