Timothy Middleton

Aug 13, 1940 -

Jun 12, 2023

Timothy Grant Middleton, 82, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2023, in Palmer, Alaska, due to complications from vascular dementia.

Born in Seattle, Wash., in 1940, he was the fourth of seven children to Henry and Lulu Middleton of New Jersey.

In 1948, his family drove to Alaska, where they established a homestead east of Homer and lived a subsistence lifestyle for most of his childhood.

Tim attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he was in Army ROTC and on the UAF Rifle Team, earning a B.A. in political science in 1966. He went on to attend law school at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, Calif., where he met and married Joyce Sulluste in 1968.

After graduating from law school, he and Joyce spent a few years at Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, where he served as an officer in the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Branch.

He and Joyce moved to Anchorage in 1971, where they raised two daughters and Tim worked as an attorney for 40 years. During his career he worked for the State of Alaska, Wohlforth & Flint and the Municipality of Anchorage.

An avid runner and Nordic skier, Tim was a passionate advocate for the development of Anchorage trails in the 70s and 80s. As president of the Nordic Ski Club in 1979, he wrote many letters to the Anchorage Assembly in support of lighting ski trails on Hillside and Kincaid, stating that "recreation is not an amenity or a frill, it is a necessity."

His love of running and skiing also took him on many travels. Some of his favorite endeavors included the Western States 100, Boston Marathon, Klondike Road Relay, Crow Pass Crossing, Equinox Marathon, Comrades Ultra, Chad Ogden Ultra, Grand Canyon Rim to Rim, Birkebeiner and Vasaloppet.

Tim is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughters, Tracy and Colette; siblings, Jane, Jeff, Pam and Cindy; grandchildren, Katey and Aidan; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss his good nature, humor and kindness.

A memorial service and reception will be held at the United Protestant Church, 713 South Denali Street in Palmer, Alaska, on July 1, 2023, at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tim's memory to The Alaska Long Trail Fund, www.alaska-trails.org.