Betty Jean Pfanmiller

Longtime Alaska resident Betty Jean Pfanmiller passed away peacefully, at the young age of 87, with family by her side. Betty was born in the coal mining community of MacLean Mine, Rains, Utah, and was raised by her parents Pearl and Warren Slater. In April 1951, at the age of 15, Betty with her mother and two younger siblings made the arduous journey by car up the Alaska Highway to Suntrana, Alaska, to join her father who worked there as a mining engineer. A year later, she and her family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, where she was a very bright student, graduating high school and starting her university studies. While living in Fairbanks she met the love of her life, Reid Pfanmiller. When he asked her out she responded, "Not until I am 18." On her 18th birthday, they had their first chaperoned date. Her children believe it must have been a very good one, as they married on March 18, 1955. Betty's children still debate whether it was his good looks and charm, the bouquet of flowers he brought her or his commitment to her being able to complete her university degree after marriage, which sealed the deal! After they married Betty worked alongside her husband Reid at a rental car company. Moving to Anchorage, Alaska, permanently in 1963, just in time to be closer to the epicenter of the '64 earthquake, Betty continued working beside Reid this time building their home and his business as an insurance agent. In 1972, Betty graduated from UAA with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She was a dedicated and beloved elementary school teacher in Anchorage with most of her teaching being at Taku Elementary School. In addition to raising three children and teaching, she obtained a master's degree from APU, as she always valued education. After retiring from teaching, George Walton offered her a job, which she readily accepted and loved because it allowed her to be near her "kryptonite" at the Gold & Diamond Co. Betty enjoyed her time boating with her family in Prince William Sound. She was very artistic, designing and sewing clothing and costumes, cross-stitching baby blankets, baking wonderful breads topped with her homemade jellies and freezer jams and creating beautiful stained glass pieces. Having a keen mind she especially enjoyed reading, working crossword puzzles, brain teasers and playing solitaire. When Betty did "retire" from boating, she and Reid enjoyed traveling together in their motor coach throughout the Lower '48 with their home base often being Las Vegas, Nev. Mom was a very kind, giving, gracious and elegant woman, even expressing gratitude to those with her in the twilight of her third battle against cancer until succumbing from this terrible disease. Above all else, mom was a very dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and she will be dearly missed. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Reid, the love of her life for over 67 years; her parents, Pearl and Warren; and brother, Bruce. She leaves a legacy of her children, Laurel Pfanmiller-Azegami, Evan Pfanmiller and Kara Pfanmiller; grandchildren, Minna Allen, Cody Putnam, Aubrae Seymore, Annikka Putnam and Kento Azegami; and eight great-grandchildren. along with two more great-granddaughters on the way; sister, Jane Richardson; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family expresses gratitude to Dr Subramanian for her excellent care over the last 20 years, Providence Hospice and numerous others who have aided her in her battle. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Betty's name to Providence Hospice. A Celebration of Life, where we can share memories of Betty, will be on Jan. 21, 2023, at 2 p.m., at Cremation Society of Alaska, 1306 East 74th Avenue in Anchorage. Those wishing to attend via Zoom should contact the family.