Marilyn Porter

Oct 30, 1931 -

Apr 17, 2025

Marilyn Martin Prideaux Porter was born Oct. 30, 1931, in Great Falls, Mont., to Ben and Grace Prideaux. She died in Anchorage, Alaska, on April 17, 2025, after surviving cancer five times. She was preceded in death by her husband, Allan L. Porter; her sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Ray Castor; and her parents. She is survived by her son, Steven; four grandchildren, Tracy Kleinow, Bethany Porter, Kelly Kveton and Laura McDaniel; and five great-grandchildren, all currently residing in Southern California.

Marilyn grew up on a wheat farm near Great Falls, attended a one-room school in Carter, Mont., and graduated from Fort Benton High School in 1949. She then attended the University of Montana in Missoula. She loved the Missoula area after growing up on a farm with no plumbing or electricity.

She met and married her husband Al in 1952 after he returned from Korea, where he was a Marine Tank Commander. They both graduated from the University of Montana in 1954; her degree was in business administration. Marilyn and Al then lived in Shelby, Mont., where their son Steven was born, and again in Missoula while Al pursued additional education.

In November 1958, they packed up their belongings in a U-Haul trailer and headed up the Alcan Highway to Anchorage, where Al had been offered a job with the Anchorage Daily News. After driving across the Peace River Valley on a railroad bridge, they encountered the first heavy snow of the season. They spent nine days on the highway, including being pulled up a hill by a grader. The family arrived in Anchorage on Dec. 3, 1958, for a two-year stay "to check it out." Al and Marilyn never left.

Marilyn soon embarked on a 30-year federal career that took her from an office over Bert's Drug Store, then to the Hill Building, and finally to the new Federal Building. In 1959, Marilyn joined the Federal Aviation Administration, first as a personnel clerk, then as a secretary. In 1963, Marilyn became a Certified Professional Secretary through the National Secretaries Association. Still with the FAA, she then became a personnel staffing specialist. She advertised agency openings, reviewed applications, determined eligibility and ranked candidates. In 1966, she started working for the Public Health Service, recruiting nurses for Bush positions. In 1968, she started working for the Civil Service Commission (which became the Office of Personnel Management in 1978), where she worked for 21 years. Her role was personnel staffing specialist, filling numerous federal positions from Juneau to Nome - including biologists, archaeologists, railroad brakemen, smoke jumpers and various medical roles.

Marilyn enjoyed spending weekends at the family cabin on Big Lake - fishing, boating, snowmachining and reading a good book - with a tranquil view of Pioneer Peak.

Marilyn and Al were enthusiastic lifetime members of the Anchorage Curling Club. They were active in both competitive leagues and "Bonspiel" tournaments. Their interest in curling led them to travel to five World Championships, two in Canada and three in Europe, plus the 1976 and 1980 Arctic Winter Games in Canada. Marilyn was a member of the Alaska curling team in the 1980 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, with Al coaching.

Marilyn made many trips to Southern California after her son and his family moved there in 1996. Marilyn enjoyed attending high school band competitions and college football and basketball games, as well as participating in her grandchildren's weddings and various family adventures.

Marilyn was a consistent donor to the University of Montana, endowing two ongoing scholarships in honor of her father, Benjamin Prideaux. Each scholarship provides about half of the recipient's in-state tuition for that year. She was also generous to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, providing funds for college.

Marilyn and Allan, until his death in 2001, found many friends at American Legion Jack Henry Post 1. Marilyn was a member of the Auxiliary Unit for 36 years, receiving an honorary life membership. She was the Post's Fur Rendezvous Parade Queen in 2010 and was on the Post's team in the Alaska Private Club Shuffleboard League for several years.

For 25 years, Marilyn was very active in the American Legion Poppy Program, which places poppies on veterans' graves each Memorial Day. Marilyn served for five years as a member of the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery Advisory Board, to be a liaison with the Poppy Program. She updated the cemetery's veteran location books to identify graves and annually worked to prepare the poppies. Marilyn was also a member of Pioneers of Alaska, VFW 1685 Auxiliary, and Moose Lodge.

Memorials can be made to American Legion Jack Henry Unit 1, P.O. Box 90035, Anchorage, AK 99509, "poppy fund."