A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 24, at Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla. A gathering of friends will follow the service, at the VFW Post in Wasilla. His ashes will be scattered on his 80th birthday at his Anderson Lake home and his beloved rock-patch in the Talkeetna Mountains.
Mr. Ferguson was born Sept. 15, 1920. in Cook, Minn. He worked the family farm until serving in World War II in the Timberwolves Division of the Army, honorably discharged in 1946.
The lure of Alaska brought him to the state in 1952. He worked in remote Alaska on the DEW line, as a surveyor and as a guide. He homesteaded in Talkeetna in 1959. The 1964 earthquake began his career in the Municipality of Anchorage as building maintenance supervisor, a position from which he retired in 1979.
Following retirement he built a home on Anderson Lake. His love of flying was served by an air strip at the back door, and a lake for float planes at the front door. He enjoyed his lake home and loon watching.
His family wrote, He was familiar to many as Uncle Ray and will be greatly missed by all. His love of Alaska encouraged many of his family to relocate here. His passion for photography, rock-hounding, flying, flower gardening, hunting and fishing continue to inspire his family and are enjoyed by many.
His parents, brother Neil, and sister, Alpha Ferguson, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his sister, Amy Kesanen, and her husband, Robert; nephews, James Kesanen, of Missouri, Mitch and Chris Ferguson, of Minnesota; nieces, Donna Aber, of Palmer, Sharon Jones, of Missouri, Kristie VanGorder, of Wasilla; great-nephews, Randy and Steve Apling, of Wasilla, Robert Jones, of Missouri, Jason Kesanen, of Anchorage, and Ryan VanGorder, of Palmer; great-nieces, Gina Wilmink, of Anchorage and Ellen VanGorder, of Palmer; and six great-great-nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations for the World War II Memorial may be sent to his family at P.O. Box 872868, Wasilla, AK 99645.
Source: Frontiersman, 23 May 2000
