Dorothy Joan Levina (Vacura) Noll

Dorothy Joan Levina (Vacura) Noll (1926 – 2013)

Born the 11th of 14 children to Annie Linhart and Louis Vacura, Levina started life at home on Oct. 31, 1926, in Plains, Mont. In high school, she lettered in basketball and cheerleading. Upon graduation, she and her older niece, Betty Rose, boarded a troop ship in Seattle as civilians and sailed to Cordova.

Levina married Donald Noll in Plains and started a family. Children Jay and Pamela were born in Missoula, Mont. In 1953, they set out on an intended five-year adventure, moving to the Last Frontier and landing in Fairbanks. Her adventure lasted 60 years.

Levina’s family grew in Fairbanks with the births of Jeffrey, Chad, Bartell, Mathew and Samuel.

Chad died in childbirth and Jeffrey drowned in the Chena River. The rest attended and graduated from Fairbanks schools.

Levina and partner Gloria Corey operated the Yarn Cache. Levina was known for her knitted Alaskan sweaters and later for her hand-sewn Alaskan winter parkas, a passion she shared with her only daughter, Pam.

Her final love was the World Ice Art Championship, where she retired as gift shop manager in 2010 at 83 years old.

After her children were all in school, Levina resumed her work life, making lunches at Main Junior High School, eventually managing the kitchen. She later worked for the Alaska Court System as a bailiff. At 50 years old, she returned to school to learn office skills and retired as a Clerk of the Court. She had the privilege of working for and with great friends like Sharon Hot rum and Sharon Berrien, retiring in 1991.

Levina made every birthday, anniversary, holiday and sporting event a celebration, with multigenerational parties happening more than monthly. Her over-used custom seat cushion sported Monroe High School on one side and Lathrop High School on the other. She freely offered advice to officials and coaches of all sports.

Levina spent her final year at the Alaska Pioneers’ Home in Fairbanks, a standing testament to the pride and respect Alaskans have for their pioneers and elders. The Pioneers’ Home staff cared for Levina as if she was their own mother, even when her advanced Alzheimer’s disease made it difficult. Favorite visitors included early Fairbanks friends Florence Keyes, godmother to son Matt, Jeanie Thompson, godmother to son Bart, and Doris Miller.

Levina will be missed by her children, Jay Noll and Irmela Fischer, of Honolulu; Pam and Lee Husson, of Phoenix; Bart and Deanne Noll, of Eugene; Matt and Nancy Noll, of Fairbanks; and Sam Noll, of Las Vegas; grandchildren Andrea and Scott Eaton, of Tucson; Brent and Annabelle Husson, of Las Vegas; Todd and Jennifer Husson, of Fort Carson, Colo.; Mandy and Schon Rohde of Chandler, Ariz; Darren Noll, of San Francisco; Chad Noll of San Luis Obispo Calif.; Donald, Taylor and Christian Noll of Eugene; Stephnie and Tyler Noll of Laveen, Ariz.; and Kegan Phillips and Pamela Noll, of Fairbanks; and great-grandchildren Mathew Eaton, serving in Afghanistan; Morgan and Kalvin Ray, of Yuma; Alize, Kylee and Chase Husson, of Las Vegas; and Michaela, Emma and Nicholas Rohde, of Chandler. She also is survived by sisters Ramona Larson and husband, Glen, of Missoula; Roxanne Brothers, of Kalispell, Mont.; brother Joseph and wife Flo, of Kalispell; brother-in-law Robert Noll, of Missoula; and scores of nieces and nephews.

Levina passed away July 4, 2013. Sons Chad and Jeffrey, and grandson Cameron Phillips preceded her in death.

A funeral mass was held at 3 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church on Wednesday, July 10, 2013, followed by a celebration of her love of family, friends and community at Soapy Smith’s Pioneer Restaurant. Friends may make remembrances to the Monroe Foundation in Fairbanks or Alzheimer’s disease research.