Minnie Salmon

1932 - 2014

Our beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother Minnie Salmon passed away Sept. 17, 2014, in Fairbanks at 82 years of age. 
Minnie Salmon was born July 3, 1932, in Chalkyitsik to Ben and Julia Thomas. Minnie is survived by her husband, William Salmon Sr., whom she married Feb. 28, 1954, and her sister, Martha Mckeown. She is also survived by her children and their spouses, Woodie Salmon and Katelyn Englishoe, Patricia Salmon, William and Vicki Salmon Jr., Isabelle and Harry Carroll Jr., Darrel and Charleen Salmon, and their children and spouses; Melissa Salmon, Dana and Ben Pugh and Destiny Salmon, Tonya Carroll and Francine Nathaniel, Amanda and Jeffery Wright, Devan and Jordan Carroll, Shelby, Julia, Allyson and Shani Fisher-Salmon; and great-grandchildren, Sikoya Fields, Arlyssa and Paxson Wright, and Sarah and Benjamin Pugh. 
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings; Mary Nathaniel, Paul Ben Thomas, Margaret Cadzow, Lilly Herbert, her son David Earl Salmon and grandson Adam Francis. 
A dedicated mother and grandmother, Shitsuu Minnie Salmon lived her life working to revitalize the Gwich'in language as a bilingual instructor and prevention worker. She helped create a Gwich'in curriculum for the Yukon Flats School District, taught Athabascan fiddle dancing to her students and helped establish the summer culture camp on the Dranjik for children. She was a health aide for many years. Minnie was a renown beadwork artist, cook and woman of strong faith.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. with visitation at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, at St. Timothy's Church in Chalkyitsik