Oscar Albert

1917 - 2011

Oscar Albert, 94, was born Oct. 8, 1917, on Moose Creek near Nabesna, three years after the Chisana gold strike and passed away Nov. 30, 2011.
Oscar was born to Peter and Elsie Albert in a tent on a drainage of the Black Hills, when muskrat and beaver lakes were icing over.
He was one of 19 children including Abraham, Roger, Kenny, Northway, Naatuu', Danny, Pauline Ewan, Jenny Sam, Alice, Andrew and Dick, as well as six infants, and his surviving sister Ada Gallen.
Oscar never went to school, but always trapped in the Black Hills. About 1927, he worked in the Kennecott Copper Mine at the Nabesna Glacier. Oscar married Mary Luke and they had 14 children, eight of whom lived.
He supported his large family as well as feeding 16 dogs and trapping no matter the temperature. Sometimes he packed a 150-pound sack of muskrats. He would say, "I sure don't like to pack that one!"
Around 1940, he met Dale Wilson, father of well-known fur buyer Dean Wilson. Dale and Oscar decided to trap together and their families remained friends. 
Oscar worked on the new Northway airstrip in 1940. In 1946, the old village of Nabesna was relocated at today's Northway, just off the new "highway." But Oscar's family stayed in their home place at Moose Creek, three miles off the road, over the flats. Their eight children grew up in the Black Hills and at their home cabin.
In 1946, Oscar got the first car in the village. After that the family was frequently on the road. In 1960, Oscar got the first snowmachine in the Northway area. Oscar and family began living at Fish Camp, just outside of Northway village.
Oscar will be missed for his sense of humor, teasing, joking and giving special nicknames.  Oscar loved to drive and drove until he was no longer able to. He continued to enjoy life in the passenger seat.
You could always count on Oscar to lend a helping hand to anyone, often opening his home to people who needed a place to stay. 
 Oscar was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, and children, Albert, Eddie, Stewart, Raymond, Bobby, Eldred, Dena, Mary Jane Fix and an infant.
He is survived by his children, Danny Albert, Marilyn Paul, Verda Paul and Irene Rodriquez; adopted son, Joe Spitler, along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and family throughout Alaska.
Services will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at Northway Community Hall.
Please visit www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsminer to sign the online guest book.