Person Page

     Crystal Bernice Thompson was born on October 18, 1909 in Sangamon County, Illinois.^2,1 She was the daughter of John Freeman Thompson and Martha Vianna "Anna" Todd.^3,4
     Crystal married Lyle Floyd Marlin Slade, son of Albert James Slade and Birdie Lanetta Gishwiller, in 1927.² Crystal died on May 23, 1978 at age 68¹ and was buried in Missoula Cemetery, Missoula County, Montana.¹

     Orville A. Rennaker was born in 1903 in Missouri.²
     Orville married Gladys Lillian Slade, daughter of Albert James Slade and Birdie Lanetta Gishwiller.¹ Orville died on March 12, 1978 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington.³ He was buried in Missoula City Cemetery, Missoula County, Montana.²

     Dennis Slade was born on October 31, 1940 in Missoula County, Montana.² He was the son of Richard Nile Slade and Gladys Opal Taylor.¹
     Dennis married first Sandra Register in 1966.³
     Dennis married second Susan Reekie in 1995.³ Dennis died on April 20, 2013 in Santa Clara County, California, at age 72.² His obituary read as follows:

      Dennis N. Slade, 72, of Big Lake, Alaska, died April 20, 2013, in Santa Clara, California while surrounded by his family. Dennis died after a brave battle with Multiple Myeloma, for which he had been receiving treatment at Stanford Medical facilities in California.

Dennis was born October 31, 1940, in Missoula, MT, to Richard "Dick" Slade and Opal Slade (Myers).

In 1958, after graduating from high school, Dennis started a career in fiberglass fabrication. He opened his own shop, where he manufactured fiberglass "funny car" bodies for drag racing and fiberglass ski boats. Dennis found his true career calling by following in his father's footsteps and becoming a machinist. He worked in that position for Westinghouse, GE and at Anchorage Municipal Light and Power-Plant 1, from which he retired after 13 years as head machinist.

Dennis married Sandra Register in 1966. They had 3 daughters, Denise (Emma), and twins Traci and Wendi. The family lived in Washington State, where Dennis cultivated 10 acres of alfalfa, fulfilling his dream of becoming a weekend farmer. He also devoted many hours as a volunteer fireman with the Valleyford, Washington Fire Department, which encompassed over 100 square miles. In 1972 the family relocated to Alaska, transferred back to Washington in 1974, and finally moved back to Alaska in 1983, where Dennis spent the rest of his life.

In 1995 Dennis married Susan Reekie. Dennis and his daughters embraced Susan and her 3 daughters, Karyn, Annie, and Janet, creating a modern day version of the Brady Bunch, with Gramma Opal in the center square. Dennis more than held his own in a family of 8 women. He had the patience, strength and sensibility it took to be a true patriarch to his "girls".

Shortly after Susan and Dennis's first anniversary, Susan had a major hard attack. Dennis came to Susan's rescue, performing lifesaving CPR, until the paramedics arrived. He truly was our hero, in every sense of the word.

Dennis and Susan moved to Big Lake in 1998. Dennis enjoyed the 2 years he spent as a councilman for the Big Lake area. Never one to sit idle, Dennis had many interests. He could always be found remodeling or working on one of his "projects" at the lake. Dennis was always a gentleman, who had an adventurous spirit. He did everything with enthusiasm, intellect and energy. Instead of just thinking about ideas, he would make them happen! He got his pilot's license, drove race cars, raced motorcycles, went dog-fighting in WWII airplanes, raced dune buggies in Mexico, took up fly fishing, restored a 1955 Ford Pickup (Oreo), the list goes on. He just about wore the whole family out trying to keep up with him

Dennis was an extraordinary son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. Above all else, Dennis loved his family. He was very happy to have spent the last thirty years living close to his mother, Opal Myers. He was an accomplished gourmet cook and liked nothing better than to prepare a feast for the entire family, which would be followed by never ending, ruthless, card playing. Countless happy hours were spent around the dining room table at the lake.

Dennis was a member of The Royal Order of the Moose, the "Real Alaskans", and various hot rod clubs in Alaska.

Surviving Dennis are his mother, Opal Myers; younger brother, Bill Myers (Peggy); wife, Susan Reekie Slade; children: Emma Coonan (Dennis), Wendi Slade (Pedro), Traci Gibson (Rob); grandchildren: Eleanor and Seamus Coonan, Kendra and Sydney Gibson, Kendall Bencid, Bayley and Garrett Fesler, Lee and Eric Sundstrom; nephews, Bryan and Chris Myers, and step children Karyn Savage (Neil), Adrianne Fesler (Curt), and Janet Savage (Larry), as well as a group of close cousins, Richard Johnson, Beverly Merrill, Shirley Adsit, Dodie Stacy, Alan Rennaker and Joanne Gray, that in his heart, were as close as siblings.³

     Sarah Katherine Slade was born in November, 1880 in Illinois.¹ She was the daughter of William Dugan Slade and Armina Harden.¹
     Sarah married Marvin Hamilton Drown, son of Theodore Drown, in 1901 in Champaign County, Illinois.² Sarah Katherine Slade was living in 1942 in Toledo, Cumberland County, Illinois.³ Sarah died in November, 1959 in Wilmington, Will County, Illinois.⁴

     Samuel Arthur Slade was born on January 21, 1883 in Champaign County, Illinois.² He was the son of William Dugan Slade and Armina Harden.³
     Samuel Arthur Slade registered for the draft for World War II in 1942, while living at Toledo, Cumberland County, Illinois, He listed his sister, Sarah Drown as the person who would always know his address.² Samuel died in January, 1961 in Wilmington, Illinois.¹

     Arminta 'Mitt' Boley was known as Liddie.¹ She was born in April, 1865 in Illinois [Tombstone engraved 1866].^1,2
     Arminta married Orlando Slade, son of William Dugan Slade and Armina Harden, on June 7, 1884.³ Arminta died circa 1907.³ She was buried in Clements Cemetery, Champaign County, Illinois.²

     Melvin Slade was born in May, 1885 in Illinois.¹ He was the son of Orlando Slade and Arminta 'Mitt' Boley.¹
     Melvin married Betty [?] circa 1908.² Melvin died in 1976.³ He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois.³

     William Henry Slade was born on July 28, 1887 in Champaign County, Illinois.^2,1 He was the son of Orlando Slade and Arminta 'Mitt' Boley.^3,2
     William married Blanche Ethel Welsh on January 14, 1905 in Illinois^4,5, the daughter of Anna Price and Abraham Lincoln Welsh.⁶ William died on September 25, 1944 at age 57³ and was buried in Clements Cemetery, Champaign County, Illinois.¹

     John Harmon Slade was born on September 3, 1888 in Illinois.^1,2 He was the son of Orlando Slade and Arminta 'Mitt' Boley.¹
     John married Myrtle Johnson.³ John died on December 22, 1939 at age 51² and was buried in Clements Cemetery, Champaign County, Illinois.²

     Robert Slade was born in December, 1890 in Illinois.¹ He was the son of Orlando Slade and Arminta 'Mitt' Boley.¹ Robert died on March 11, 1902 at age 11.² He was buried in Clements Cemetery, Champaign County, Illinois.² The 1900 census shows his birth as Dec 1890, however, the cemetery inventory shows his birth date Dec 25, 1893 and death as Mar 11, 1902.³

     Clyde Obie Slade was born in August, 1895 in Indiana.¹ He was the son of Orlando Slade and Arminta 'Mitt' Boley.¹ Clyde Obie Slade registered for WWI draft on June 5, 1918 at Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois.
     Clyde married Mita Krenz circa 1924.³

     Minnie May McGraw was New Tag on March 25, 1870 in St Joseph, Champaign County, Illinois.¹ She was born in March, 1873 in Illinois.²
     Minnie married William Henry Slade, son of William Dugan Slade and Armina Harden, on March 25, 1889 in Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois.² Minnie died on October 12, 1959 in Urbana, Illinois, at age 86.¹

     Elsie A. Slade was born in March, 1895 in Champaign County, Illinois.¹ She was the daughter of William Henry Slade and Minnie May McGraw.¹
     Elsie married Edward Marshky.² Elsie died in 1997.³ She was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois.⁴