Alaska School Yearbooks by County
John Burton Dolloff
Juneau resident John Burton Dolloff, 69, died Dec. 10, 2006.
Born April 1, 1937, in Denver, he was a Juneau resident since 1977. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard when he was 19 and transferred to Juneau in 1963. He moved back to Juneau when he retired in 1977. He worked for Douglas Trucking, was a school bus driver and worked for Capital Transit as a city bus driver.
He enjoyed the outdoors - hunting, fishing and boating. He enjoyed spending time at the family's cabin on Shelter Island with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Harriett Dolloff, of Parshall, Colo.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Pauline Dolloff and their children, Stanley Dolloff, of North Pole, David Dolloff, of Fairbanks, and Heather Gregory, of Juneau; his sons, John Dolloff, of Florida, and Michael Dolloff, of Colorado; brother, Bob Dolloff, of Georgia; and eight grandchildren.
There are no services scheduled at this time. His ashes will be scattered at a later date.
Emma Olga Olsen
Emma Olga Olsen, a longtime community and Alaska Native Sisterhood leader, died the morning of Dec. 26, 2006, in Juneau. She was 87.
Born July 22, 1919, in Dundas Bay to Sam and Sally Hopkins, she was a Yaashundoosteen, of the Tin.aa.Hit (Copper Shield House) of the Kiks.adi, Frog Tribe. She married her husband of 63 years, Oscar P. Olsen, on April 12, 1945, in Juneau.
She served 15 terms as president of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2, and was one of the longest serving presidents in the camp's history.
She learned the importance of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and ANS from her parents and continued in their footsteps.
During her tenure as president of Camp 2, her focus was always on education. The "Tlingit Tea for Teachers" was initiated during her presidency, as well as JOM.
Juneau's Indian Studies programs were a top priority during her administration.
She was also concerned with fundraising. Under her leadership, the sisters worked hard to raise money for the Juneau Children's Home, the Public Health Service Alaska Native Health Clinic and St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. She and the sisters also hosted dinners for graduating seniors, a Christmas party for children and an annual Founder's Day dinner that honored life members of the ANS.
She was active in the formation of SEARHC as chair of the Juneau Clinic Advisory Board. She and her husband have been among the most generous donors of Native foods for the annual Gold Medal Native foods fundraiser. Her culture was very important. She was a member of the Yaaaw Tei Yi (Herring Rock) Dancers.
She was the last surviving member of her seven siblings.
She is survived by her husband; sons Ole Olsen, of Phoenix; Fred Hopkins and his wife, Marietta; Erling Olsen and his wife, Sharon, of Juneau; Eric Olsen, his wife Pat, of Juneau, as well as nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the ANB Hall. A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the ANB Hall.
Pallbearers will be Fred E. Hopkins, Jason Murdoch, O.P. Olsen, John Shorty, Ozzie Sheakley and Shorty Tonsgard. Honorary pallbearers are Bob Anderson John Duncan, Archie Nielsen, John Nielsen, George Williams, Len Sevdy, Sam Wanamaker, Randy Wanamaker, Ron Williams, Marcello Quinto, Ralph Knundson, Ole Taug and Andy Ebona.
Robert Valliant
A funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Catholic Church for longtime community leader Robert "Bob" Valliant. A reception in the church lobby will follow the service.
The 64-year-old former CEO of Bartlett Regional Hospital died Dec. 19, 2006, at his home in the company of his family, following an extended fight with cancer.
He was born Oct. 31, 1942, in El Reno, Okla., to Raymond and Matilda Valliant. His father, a chief warrant officer in the U.S. Army who frequently served in foreign countries, had settled his family in Lawton, Okla., where Bob and his sister, Barbara, grew up.
He saw service in Vietnam as a U.S. Army officer, during which he received several medals, including decorations for valor in combat. He left the U.S. Army as a Major after 11 years of service.
He returned to school graduating with an master's degree in business administration in hospital administration from Trinity University in San Antonio.
In the early 1980s, he began his hospital career as an assistant administrator in Arlington, Texas.
On Feb. 20, 1980, he came to Juneau as an interim chief executive officer assigned to Bartlett Regional Hospital by Quorum Health Resources, which has the hospital management contract.
He was promised it would be a three-month assignment. Five weeks later, on Easter weekend, he was joined by his wife Josie and 6-year-old step son, Bruno, who arrived to a mixture of rain, snow and sun.
The Valliants fell in love with Juneau. He accepted the position of full-time CEO and "three months" turned into 17 years.
Valliant was past president of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce and Glacier Valley Rotary Cub. He also served on the Qualis Health Board of Directors, a national nonprofit quality improvement organization, and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He was past president of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, and chaired a task force on domestic violence.
"Bob strongly believed in contributing to the community," his wife noted. "He really enjoyed life and his friends, and he truly loved each of his three sons." An enthusiastic cook, Bob was known for his fajita parties. He loved to travel in Mexico and to explore Mexican culture.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father.
He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Josie Valliant; sons, Jason and John Valliant; step son, Bruno Del Olmo; and sister, Barbara Clyde.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Bartlett Foundation, 3260 Hospital Dr., Juneau, AK, 99801, or the Foundation for End of Life Care, 5050 Thane Road, Juneau, AK, 99801.
Donna (Reeves) Willy
Former Juneau resident Donna (Reeves) Willy, 40, died Dec. 21, 2006, in Hillsboro, Ore., after an extended illness.
She was born March 12, 1966, in Juneau, to Dale and Mary Reeves. She attended Juneau schools and graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1984. As a teen she was an active member of the local Youth For Christ program. She worked one summer season each for Southeast Alaska Guidance Alliance and Aldercrest Lodge, and three seasons for Echo Ranch Bible Camp.
In December 1989, she moved to the Portland, Ore., area, where she met Doug Willy. The were married in February 1992, and had two sons. She home-schooled their boys until 2005.
Willy and her family were active members of their church in Aloha, Ore., and she also participated in women's ministries.
Family members said she will be dearly missed. She loved her hometown of Juneau, its scenic beauty and plentiful wildlife. She had longed to move back with her family, they said. She visited as often as possible.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Reeves, of Juneau; two grandmothers, Frieda Wood, of Seattle, and Opal Hembree, of Klamath Falls, Ore.; and two aunts, Donna Simonson and Pat Driscoll, of Klamath Falls, Ore.
She is survived by her husband, Doug V. Willy; sons Jonathan T. Willy and Hayden D. Willy; mother, Mary Reeves; sister Brenda "Bre" Reeves, of Juneau; brother, Dale Reeves and his wife, Rowena, of Juneau; sister, Betsy Giles and her husband, Keith, of Juneau; and several nieces, nephews and many other relatives in Oregon.
A funeral service will be held Jan. 6 at the Life Church in Aloha. A private memorial is being planned for the summer of 2007 in Juneau.
Messages or cards of condolence may be sent to Doug Willy and Family, 6809 Johnson St., Hillsboro, OR, 97123, and to Mary Reeves and Family, P.O. Box 33085, Juneau, AK, 99803.
George Miyasato
Juneau resident and lifelong Alaska Native Brotherhood leader George Worthington Miyasato Sr. died Dec. 31, 2006, in Juneau after a short illness. He was 80.
Born April 7, 1926, in Wrangell to George K. Miyasato and Mary Worthington-Miyasato Jackson, he was of the Raven moiety, Dog Salmon and Leenda and House of the Big Dipper.
His grandfathers, Chester Worthington and James Johnson, were two founding fathers of the Alaska Native Brotherhood, formed in 1912. He was a lifelong member of ANB Camp 3. He was instrumental in getting the Anti-discrimination Act passed in 1945. He also was actively involved organizing Camp 2 bingo, and worked to have Feb. 6 declared Elizabeth Peratovich Day, a proclamation signed by Gov. Steve Cowper on April 21, 1988.
He was the first student body president of Mt. Edgecumbe School in 1947, when he graduated with the school's first class. He attended Humbolt College. He worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for many years as an employment assistance specialist and was a fisherman from his early years. He supported education and stressed this to his children and grandchildren.
During World War II, he was interned in a Japanese concentration camp with his father. He was a Korean War veteran.
He married Katherine "Kitty" Stevens in 1956. He was president of the Douglas ANB Camp 3 for many years until his health started to fail him. His son, James, followed him as president. He was active in the Church of God.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Benjamin and Chester Miyasato; sister, Edith Stevens; and grandson, William Petaja.
He is survived by his sisters, Alice Miyasato and her husband, Sam; Harriet Miyasato and her husband, Beleal; seven children: George III, Daniel and his wife, Bessie, Frank, James and Dorianne Miyasato, and Sherry Hon and Fran Sheakley; grandchildren, Terry Lyn Nierstheimer, Kevin Miyasato, Mary Rose Johnston, Dan Miyasato Jr., Leslie Miyasato and Adele Miyasato-Petaja; niece, Rhonda Lynn Smith-Black; and several great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Mike Miyasato, Derek Nierstheimer, David Admire, Kevin Slats, Bert Bennett and Andrew Green. Honorary pallbearers will be Percy Hope, Rob Williams, Gerry Bennett, Al McKinley Sr., Rey Skan Sr., Paul Moreno and Tommy Jimmy Sr.
There will be an ANB memorial service at 4 p.m. today at the ANB Hall. Church services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Church of God. For more information, contact Frank Miyasato at 586-2947.
