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Longtime resident Beth Kay Ogden died peacefully on June 8, 2008, in Juneau, with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. She was 89.

She was born on April 1, 1919, in Silverbow, Mont., the third of six children to Barbus Kendale and Emili Zola Johnson. She attended school in Burbank, Calif., and met her first husband, Eugene McKnight, at a dance. They married in 1937 and had two children, Bob and Judy.

During World War II, Eugene died from wounds received during the Battle of the Bulge. Before the war ended, she became reacquainted with the adventurous Floyd Ogden, a friend of her brother she'd met as a young teenager. They soon fell in love and married in August 1945.

Before the war, Ogden had been coming to Alaska for years, working at Excursion Inlet and also as a prospector. Upon discharge from the Army, he brought Beth and her children to Alaska for the first time. Eventually, they built a house just west of Waydelich Creek in Auke Bay and lived here until 1965.

During this time, there probably wasn't a child in the area she didn't help care for, her family said. After raising her two children, she worked at the Nugget Shop downtown for many years. She and Ogden spent summer vacations prospecting and visiting friends. Their travels took them from Fairbanks to Eagle, Chicken and even Nome.

After moving downtown, they worked for their good friend, Dr. Akiyama, doing maintenance and custodial work at his clinic. Beth Ogden kept active with her many friends and enjoyed water aerobics at the pool. Floyd died in 1997, and Beth returned to Auke Bay to be closer to family.

Her family said she had a wonderful sense of humor, was a good listener, excelled at recalling names and places and enjoyed attending social events with family and friends, especially those involving grandchildren. Throughout her full life, Beth graciously helped others with a smile and a laugh, they said.

"She was the quintessential grandma and we will truly miss her," they said.

She is survived by her sister, Doris Johnson, of California; brother, Dick Johnson and wife, Betty, of Palmdale, Calif.; son, Bob Ogden and wife, Judy, of New Mexico; daughter, Judy Thomas and husband, Joe, of Juneau; grandchildren, Ross Ogden and wife, Cindy, and children, Cordell and Kyle, of Minnesota, Rob Ogden, of Seattle, Paul Thomas and children, Ronie and Cole, of Juneau, Leeann Thomas and husband, Pete Schneider, and son, Beck, of Juneau, and Brad Ogden and wife, Janice, of New Mexico; and extended family, Linda, Guy, Axel and Greta Thibodeau, of Juneau, and Kathy, Loren, Nils and Lea Domke, of Juneau.

At her request, there will be no service. Condolences may be sent to Joe and Judy Thomas at P.O. Box 210875, Auke Bay, AK 99821. Donations can be made to Juneau Home Hospice or Catholic Community Services.