Milton Moses Jr.

Milton Moses Jr. left this life, Tuesday, February 13, 2024, just eight days before his official 82nd birthday. A long-time resident of Tanana, "Grandpa" Moses was born at a trapline camp near Stevens Village. His birth was officially recorded by a midwife when his parents brought him into the village. As a result, there was some confusion whether the date was February 21 or 22, but the year was 1942.

In his early childhood, Moses lived a traditional subsistence lifestyle, traveling seasonally to various camps in the Denyeet area. After a spring flood destroyed their camp, the family continued their subsistence lifestyle in the lower Tanana River and Yukon confluence areas, sometimes near old Minto. As construction of the Alaska Railroad brought employment opportunities, they moved to Nenana. When their father became ill with TB, their mother took his job on the railroad, and Milton and his older brother went to stay at the Episcopal mission's boarding school in Nenana.

By his later teenage years, Milton had become a dog musher and an expert river navigator, living at various times in Tanana, Nenana or Fairbanks. Sled dog racing led to friendship with a young Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reporter, Mary Wallace, whom he married in 1963.The couple started their family in Fairbanks. In summer of 1969, Milton won the Yukon 800 in his race boat, the Wild Savage. The following winter the family moved to Tanana. Though the couple separated in 1974, they remained good friends. Tanana was Milton's primary residence for the rest of his life. He was noted for his toughness, knowledge of the land and rivers, and ability as a sled dog trainer and racer. He earned his living fighting forest fires, trapping, fishing, working a variety of labor jobs, and in the later years before retirement, as night watch for the Tanana Elders' Residence.

Milton is preceded in death by his parents, Milton Moses Sr. and Virginia (Joseph, Moses) Mayo; stepdad, Winthrop (Windy) Mayo; grandparents, Elijah & Helen Joseph, and Nayasudne ("Old") & Emily Moses; siblings, Charlotte Moses, infant twins, Jack (Moses) Kuster, Elijah Burk (Don) Moses, Jeanne Mayo, Shirley Mayo; sons, Jack Moses and Lawrence Elijah Moses; close cousin, Paul Starr; and numerous extended family and friends.

He is survived by his former wife and long-time friend, Mary; son, Milton Tyler (Margaret) Moses; sisters, Sharon (Jay) Tyone, Marilyn Overpeck, and Sally (Ted) Wicken; brother, Robert Mayo; stepchildren, Archie (Courtney) Agnes, Aaron Marks, Stephanie (Eric) Weter, Arnold (Theresa) Marks Jr., Andrew Marks; traditionally adopted daughter, Charlette (Rodney) Price; grandchildren, Ben (Dawn) Newman, Phoenix (Forest) Johnson, Russell (Beth) Moses, Frances and Carrie Agnes, Leah , Lucas and Levi Marks, Angelica Firmin, Blaise and Flint Weter, Reese Sam-Marks, Isabella Marks, Peyton and Elijah Marks, and Troy Edwin Jr.; great-grandchildren, Natalie and Joni Newman, Gena, Kane, Morighan and Amelia Johnson, and Lawrence, Patsy and Jordan Moses; close cousins, Ernie and Esau Evan, and Tommy Justin; other children Ashley, Rena, Uneshia and Lori Ann Wallace, Eileen Charlie, Rudy and Francine Wiehl and Renee, Austin, Kia, Corey and Clay Wiehl, plus many other cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation was 1:00 pm, Friday, February 16, at the Blanchard Family Funeral Home, with funeral service following at 2:00 pm. Milton is being laid to rest in Rampart, next to his son, Lawrence Elijah Moses. Rampart Funeral services are February 19, with burial and traditional potlatch following.