Arleta O’Connor

Long time Palmer resident Arleta O'Connor, 85, passed away August 18, 2025, while staying at Pioneers Home in Palmer, Alaska.

Arleta was born November 22, 1939, in Glasgow, Montana to Ralph and Vivan Goodrich. Ralph Goodrich purchased one of the colonist farms for his family in 1940 and moved his family to Palmer Alaska in 1940 on the Alaska Steamship Company Ship, when Arleta was just 9 months old. Arleta grew up on that farm and always described growing up in Palmer as a wonderful experience.

Arleta married Patrick O'Connor on November, 26, 1955 when she was just sixteen at St. Micheal Catholic Church in Palmer. Arleta and Pat had two sons, Ron and Dan, and took great pleasure exploring Alaska's great outdoors with family and traveling to new places outside the state. Arleta and Pat moved their family to Mt. McKinley National Park in 1971 and to New Plymouth, New Zealand in July 1975 for 16 months, before moving back to Mt. McKinley National Park until they retired in 1992. Arleta held many administration jobs throughout her life, working for Dr. Hume office, Swanson School, McKinley National Park, and Tri Valley School. After Arleta and Pat retired, they returned to their family property in Palmer and built their 3rd home, where they continued their love of travelling and exploring Alaska's great outdoors.

Arleta loved spending time with family and friends, whether it was spending time at the cabin at Lake Louise or on an outing in the back country, she was always up for an adventure. If you went and visited Arleta's home, you knew you were going to be playing games and listening to Johnny Cash. Arleta was known for her positive attitude and always having a smile on her face. Friends would state, "Arleta had the gift of making everyone feel welcome". Not one to sit ideal after retirement, Arleta and Pat traveled, joined the Pioneers of Alaska in 2005, engaging in Alaska's heritage (especially anything Palmer related), participated in vintage snowmachine runs at Lake Lousie and making the most out of life.

Arleta is survived by her two sons, Ron O'Connor of Fairbanks, Alaska and Dan O'Connor of Healy, Alaska, 3 Grandchildren, Danielle O'Connor of Healy, Alaska, Breann O'Connor of Fairbanks, Alaska, Teal O'Connor of Wasilla, Alaska and one Great Grandson, Kael Evens of Healy, Alaska. She was preceded in death by her husband Patrick, and her brother Duane Goodrich.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Elks Lodge in Palmer on October 11, 2025, at 3:00pm. Not only will we be celebrating Arleta but also honoring the life of her husband Pat, who we lost during the height of the Covid restrictions. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Wolf Pack Snow Machine Club at Lake Lousie, lakelouisesnowmachineclub.com, where they loved spending time with family and friends.