Helen L. Dolenc

Pioneer Alaskan Helen L. Dolenc, 89, died July 1, 2009, in Salem, Ore. A viewing will be at 8:30 a.m., with a memorial service at 10 a.m., Monday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 560 W. Arctic Blvd., Palmer. Burial will be at noon at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. She was born Feb. 16, 1920, at Bedford, Ind., to Ulla and Beulah Hoopingarner Little. She was raised in Indiana and Arizona and graduated from Long Beach Business College in California. She loved to travel. Helen joined the Women's Army Corps during World War II (specifically because the Army was the only service branch that would send women overseas) and served in England, France and Germany. She attained the rank of staff sergeant and was awarded the Commendation Medal. She later remarked that the most satisfying aspect of her military service was the time she spent as a volunteer in a military hospital in France. Helen first moved to Alaska in 1947, working for Columbia Lumber Co. in Sitka, Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks. After a three-year stint working in Morocco, she returned to Sitka and later married a prominent Alaskan, John L. Dolenc. They retired to Palmer in 1969. She was a homemaker and enjoyed working in the garden and with flowers. She especially enjoyed making jams and jellies and giving most of them to friends. Helen volunteered for the March of Dimes, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Easter Seal Society, Chamber of Commerce in both Sitka and Palmer, and the Palmer Senior Citizens Center. Of all her volunteer service, the one that was most important to her was her Army service during World War II and serving overseas. Helen was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a very active member for more than 60 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, John, and her seven siblings. She is survived by her son, Donald, and his wife Cathy; and grandchildren, Mary, Jacob, Elise and John, all of Keiser, Ore. Arrangements are with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory, Wasilla.