FRONTIER SPORTSMAN

	KEITH PERRINS

Dennis I. Branham shared his passion for the Alaska outdoors with other sportsmen through the many lodges that he established in Alaska.

He died July 21 at age 86.

Branham was born in Nashville, Wis. He flew to Alaska in 1941 as a passenger on an Alaska Star Airlines Staggerwing Beech. Later, he and his brother purchased a trap line on Puntilla Lake and established Rainy Pass Lodge.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the start of World War II and served with the Troop Carrier Command as a Curtiss C-46 pilot. After his discharge, he flew for Dillingham Air Service, Northern Consolidated Airlines and his own company, Bran Air.

Branham established Hayes River Lodge, Kokhanok Falls Lodge and Big River Lakes Lodge—now known as Katmai Lodge. He was assisted in his ventures by his wife, Mildred, and son, Chris.

He was an excellent airman and registered guide, holding an Alaska Master Guide license. He was a founding member of the Safari Club International’s Alaska chapter and the Alaska Professional Hunters Association. He was a member of the Explorers Club and Quiet Birdmen.Oliver e. cameron, 88, died Jan. 17. After serving in World War II, he raised his family north of Ambler, building his homestead with handmade tools. He wrote two books and was working on a third about living in the wilderness.

LlyoD wynell cannon, 69, died Jan. 19. He established his family and a thriving commercial fishing business in Kodiak. Cannon helped found All Alaska Seafoods.

HannaH ellan case, 86, died Nov. 17. After college, she married and raised four children. In 1967 she married John Case. She lived at Davidson Logging Co. At Whale Pass, as well as other camps in Southeast, and in Ketchikan for many years.

Francis eDDy, 84, died Dec. 28. In Sitka, he worked for the Alaska Lumber and Pulp Co. And raised seven children with his wife, Florence. He enjoyed fishing, camping, berry picking, harvesting herring eggs, picnicking, reading, listening to jazz, watching television and writing.

THomas H. Friesen, 70, died Oct. 26. Friesen served on the Ketchikan City Council for four years, and was a coach, umpire and radio announcer for the Rebels baseball team, as well as an announcer for the high school and little league teams.

Bill Hjort, 68, died Jan. 21. He was born and attended school in Southeast Alaska. He served in the U.S. Army before moving back to Cordova to be a commercial fisherman.

He was a woodworker and craftsman, first building boats, then his home. He was involved in the Chenega Cultural Language Preservation Program.

Jean josepH, 68, died Jan. 26. She spent most of her life in Southeast Alaska. Joseph was a Retired teacher and principal, and a member of the Moose and Elks lodges, and the American Legion. She enjoyed playing poker and traveling.

Glen earl lewis, 71, died Dec. 20. He was stationed in Juneau with the U.S. Coast Guard, where he met his wife and raised their three sons. He owned and operated many local businesses and enjoyed bowling, carving, golfing, fishing and hunting. He served as president for the Juneau Gun Club.

Herman mcDonnell meiners sr., 83, died Dec. 9. He moved his family to Fairbanks in 1959 to work on the Distant Early Warning Line. They moved to Juneau in 1964 where he worked for the Department of Public Safety. He enjoyed fishing, boating and pinochle.

Erna FrieDa morGan, 88, died Jan. 4. With her husband and children, she lived in Dillingham, and later Juneau. She worked as an accountant and technician for various heath providers.

She loved to read, hunt deer and fish, and Enjoyed playing cribbage.

Walter moy, 88, died Jan. 4. He as born in Hoonah and served in Adak during World War II, receiving the WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Asiatic Pacific Service Medal from the U.S. Army.

LinDsey riGGs, 88, died Jan. 25. He moved his family to Sitka in 1960 and worked for the U.S. Public Health Service at Mount Edgecumbe Hospital and for the Bureau of Indian Affairs School until retiring in 1980. Riggs loved hunting and fishing with his friends and family.

Miriam myra rosenn, 61, died Jan. 11 after a 20-year battle with breast cancer. She worked for the Indian Health Service in Barrow, Nome, Anchorage and Kodiak, where she moved 11 years ago. She was very involved in the Community, and loved the outdoors and the company of her many friends.

Steven R. Smith, 71, died Oct. 20. During his life in Alaska, he engaged in almost every kind of commercial fishery in Prince William Sound and later in Bristol Bay. He was a talented photographer and made several Alaska wildlife films.

TRuman t. SuqupSiRaq Cleveland SR., 83, died Nov. 25. His family helped found Ambler in 1958. Cleveland was a trapper, janitor, commercial fisherman, bilingual teacher and tribal doctor. He served as usher for Ambler Friends Church for 40 years.

Opal i. taylOR, 84, died Jan. 25. In 1951 she moved to Juneau with her best friend and started work at Bert’s Foods Center where she met her husband, Eldon. They raised three children and Taylor worked as a bookkeeper at the 20th Century Supermarket, which the couple eventually Purchased.

Evelyn m. vantReaSe, 93, died Aug. 1. She moved to Alaska in 1941 and was a Bristol Bay set-netter, pioneering postmistress, village air-taxi dispatcher and volunteer teacher. She and her husband, Jack, raised four children at their homestead on Lake Iliamna, where they helped establish the village of Pile Bay.

DelOReS WheeleR, 69, died Dec. 22. In 1990 she moved to Cordova because of its peaceful beauty and friendly residents. She was a hiker, artist, seamstress, woodworker, gardener and cook. She is survived by three of her four daughters and her husband, Ward.