Richard W. Fields

SOLDOTNA, Alaska — Former Big Arm resident Richard W. Fields, 88, of Kenai died Feb. 23, 2006, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna.

At his request, no services were planned.

He was born March 2, 1917, in Junction City, Kan. He graduated from high school and had two years of post graduate studies at the University of Washington. Richard also served in the U.S. Coast Guard from Dec. 15, 1942, until his honorable discharge on Aug. 30, 1945.

He worked as a heavy equipment salesman and retired after 40 years of service. For several years he and his family lived in the Big Arm area. Their daughter Jane is a former Miss Teenager of Montana. In 1989 they moved to Fairbanks, where he lived until moving to Kenai in 1997.

He loved gardening, especially growing potatoes.

"Dad and Grandpa's favorite times were spent with his family. He took great pride in his grandchildren and their achievements and left them with many wonderful memories," his family said.

Preceding him in death were his parents and a younger brother.

Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Jean K. Fields of Kenai; sister Ann Lynch of Bellevue, Wash.; daughters and sons-in-law, JoAnn and Jim Breznay of Sammamish, Wash., and Jane and Wayne Schultz of Kenai; son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Jennifer Fields of Bellingham, Wash.; grandchildren and their spouses, Ryan and Jessica Schultz of Fairbanks, Tom and Laura Fields, Jr. of Bellingham, Jared and Jennifer Fields of Bellingham, Andrea and Drew Harrell of Greenville, N.C., Stephanie Fields of Bellingham and Barbara Pongracz-Bartha of Portland, Ore.; and a grand-granddaughter, Lily Pongracz-Bartha of Portland.

The family prefers memorial donations be made to the Central Peninsula General Hospital Patient Assistance Fund, 250 Hospital Way, Soldotna, AK 99669.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.