Peter Askeland

Peter Askeland passed away at home with his family, at the age of 84, after struggling with the aftermath of esophageal cancer and an esophagectomy in 2018. Pete lived a great life that began in Brooklyn, N.Y., as the middle child of Norwegian parents Peder Askeland and Asta Thompson, and brother to Norma (Smith) and Thelma (Tucker). He joined the Army at 17, served for three years and then joined the IUEC working for Otis Elevator in New York. During a beach bum break in Hermosa Beach, Calif., he met his partner for life, Merle, riding bikes on the Strand. Their 52-year adventure started with a Vegas wedding that they told their parents about after the fact! Then Merle asked Pete if he would ever consider moving to Alaska. Today, when you look at the skyline of Anchorage, it is with immense pride that Pete could say that he installed the elevators in almost every significant building here. He was a very proud union member his entire life. His life dream when he moved here was to get his pilot's license. As he learned to fly, his wife learned to sky dive! Pete would tell you until he died that he was lucky enough to live in Alaska during the "Golden Years." He flew until he was 80 years old, and flying, travel, adventure and his family were his passions in life. But the other major adventure that he always was thankful to the great state of Alaska for, was that, in 1983, his name was drawn out of a peanut butter bucket and he won the opportunity to become one of the last American homesteaders! He and his family "proved up" on the land near Matanuska Glacier in 1985, and that land is a legacy he leaves for his family for many generations to come. Pete died at home with his wife Merle and his only child, Kristi (Askeland) Senden, holding his hand. He was an extremely proud husband, father, father-in-law to Kirby Senden, and grandfather to Karsten and Korben Senden. He was an incredibly generous man with his money, time and knowledge, and he inspired confidence, optimism and a "can-do" spirit in those around him. His small, but close-knit family brought him constant joy. A celebration of life will be held May 2022 at his daughter's home.