Isabel Fulton Ahlgren, mother of the late Molly O Ahlgren of Sitka, died in the early hours of Christmas Eve Day, December 24, at her residence in Sun City, Arizona. She was 95.
Isabel was born Feb. 11, 1924, and spent her childhood in Oconto, Wisconsin. She attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, receiving her doctorate in 1950, and taught botany at Wellesley and Wheaton colleges.
In 1953 she married Clifford E. Ahlgren, and from 1964 to 1987 they were employed by the University of Minnesota and F.B. Hubechek, at Hubechek’s Wilderness Research Center on Basswood Lake near Ely, Minnesota.
The Ahlgrens were the authors of the book “Lob Trees of the Wilderness” and 70 research papers on topics such as “Viability and Fertility of Vacuum Dried Pollen of 5 Needle Pine Species” and “Effects of Prescribed Burning on Soil Microorganisms.” Together, they also developed a rust disease-resistant strain of White Pine.
They retired to Sun City.
In retirement, Isabel mastered the art of basket-weaving, eventually teaching and developing her own patterns. She greatly enjoyed visiting Sika and learning to add antlers to her baskets.
Isabel was preceded in death by her husband Clifford E. Ahlgren; daughter Molly Ahlgren, a professor in aquatic resources at Sheldon Jackson College and an EMT, who was killed in a boating accident Nov. 30, 2004, at age 47; her brothers Robert and Joseph Fulton; and parents.
She is survived by her son Cliff (Nancy) and grandson Samuel.
Isabel enlisted “Research for Life” of Phoenix, Arizona, in her choice for final arrangements.