Rachel Runyan

A dear soul, Rachel Runyan, has left this earth, and our daily lives. She died in her sleep at St. Elias Specialty Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, on Dec. 7, 2015, due to complications from staph infection. She made her home in Chugiak, Alaska; she was 73. She had a long, eventful, she would say blessed, and challenging life. She was born on April 28, 1942, in Norristown Penn., to Robert Valmoore Runyan and Bertha May (Loos) Runyan. Enlisting in the Air Force in 1960, she served her country for more than 27 years, retiring in Alaska, where she spent 20 years as Pharmacy Superintendent at Valley Hospital and then at Mat-Su Regional Hospital. She was an Amateur Radio operator since 1977, her call sign being AL7FI. She loved Alaska: snowmachining, fishing, hunting, skeet and target shooting and camping, she partook of everything it had to offer. She spent much of her life volunteering her time and resources to many organizations such as the Boy Scouts, her church, students at UAA and numerous races including The Iditarod Jr., Iditarod and Iditasport. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Dave; and her much loved dog and partner-in-crime, Gizmo. She is survived by her beloved sons, Richard and his soulmate Stacie Johnson of Big Lake, Alaska, and Glenn and wife Kacy of Eagle River; their mother, Shari MacGregor; sister, Roberta (Runyan) and Tommy Pertuch; brother, Jim and wife Bev along with nephews, David, Clinton, Joshua and Benjamin Runya, and nieces Alicia and Cheryl Pertuch; many, many friends; and her best buddy, her Maltese, PJ. Interment will be at Ft. Richardson National Cemetery. Per her wishes, some of her ashes will be distributed by family and friends on the Iditarod Trail. Please join us for a celebration of life at 4 p.m., on Jan. 3, 2016, at the United Methodist Church of Chugiak. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the United Methodist Church of Chugiak or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are with Janssen's Eagle River Funeral Home.