LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]

New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]

Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
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    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
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City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
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During th [ ... ]

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
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Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
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Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
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Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
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House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
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Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
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March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
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Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
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    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
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Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
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Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
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City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

Hettie Rodgers

Hettie Irene Rodgers, 80, died on Nov. 22, 2012, with her family gathered at her bedside at SEARHC-Mt. Hospital in Sitka, Alaska.
Born on April 7, 1932, to Dwight H. and Lois L. (Allen) Pierce in Aberdeen, Wash., Hettie was raised in Hoodsport and attended Irene Reed High School in Shelton, Wash.
She married her high school sweetheart, Darrel Rodgers, on July 23, 1949, and together they forged a life that was filled with love, laughter and adventure.
In 1960, Hettie and Darrel moved their family to Sitka.  There the young “cheechako” family was quickly welcomed into Sitka’s small, friendly community where lifelong friendships were formed.
Hettie worked and played side-by-side with her husband fishing their troller, the F/V Cheri-D, living for a few years in Clear Creek Logging Camp at Rodman Bay, hunting and enjoying the outdoors, and later traveling in the winter months in their RV.  She was a dedicated volunteer at the White Elephant for the past 20 years and also a member of the Sitka Emblem Club 142.
A talented and beautiful woman, Hettie loved her family, friends, art, traveling, a good laugh and people both young and old.
Writing, though, was her special passion. She was especially proud of her stories which were published in 1962, 1964, and 1968 in the “Alaska Sportsman Magazine.”  One story recounted the ill-fated Yakatat moose hunting trip by husband Darrel, Barton Sollars, Marvin Kinberg Jr, Lauren Loucks, Odie Hethcock, and Larry Marler on Sollars’ boat, F/V Bertha R.   At the end of the successful hunt, the Bertha R was crossing the Ahrnklin River bar, heavily loaded with meat in the hold, when a rogue wave swept over and swamped the 40-foot fishing boat. Her story describes not only the hunt but the ordeal the men experienced in their survival and the salvaging of the Bertha R.  It was a classic Alaskan adventure account.
Following the death of her husband in 1990, Hettie met William “Bill” Konoske.  They were devoted companions until Bill’s death in 2005.
Hettie is survived by her son Randal (Jan) Rodgers, daughter Rene Rodgers, 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and great-great twin granddaughters, as well as one brother, Dwight Lee Pierce.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Darrel, and daughter Cheryl Lee Rodgers.
Hettie’s family is honoring her wishes and a memorial will be held for her in the spring of 2013 in Shelton, Wash., where she is to be buried beside her husband.  In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest donations be made in her honor to the White Elephant Shop.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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