“Dodie,” as she was known by family and friends, was born Oct. 29, 1936. to Henry and Lillian Erickson in Chignik. She grew up in Chignik Lagoon and married Hans Pedersen in 1955. Together they raised six children in a commercial salmon and subsistence lifestyle. Hans passed away in 1984 and she married A.B. Combs in 1988. They cherished their later years traveling and enjoying the company of family and many friends. A.B. passed in 2002. Dodie had homes in Chignik Lagoon, Kodiak, Anchorage, Homer and the last six months she resided in Palmer.
Her family said, “She took great pride in her homes and family. She was an excellent cook and baker. Her cream puffs would disappear the minute she would put them out to cool, as all the village kids could attest to. She also loved to knit and crochet. She would knit a sweater for every baby born that she knew, probably totaling 100 or more.
“Mom had a full and interesting life and will be greatly missed, but we know she is enjoying a happy reunion in Heaven. We love you, Mom!”
Dodie was preceded in death by a son, Daniel; husbands Hans and A.B., and a sister Viola.
Survivors include sisters, Louise Anderson, Rosie Skonberg, Vivian Brandal; brothers, Clarence and Kenneth Erickson; children, Colleen Jones, husband John and family, of Chignik Lagoon; Susan Shelton, husband Rod and family, of Palmer; Kirsten Pedersen and family, of Kodiak; Sharilyn Harris and husband Dan, of Soldotna; Hans Pedersen Jr., wife and family, of Homer; and 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Dodie’s cremated remains have been divided among her children, and they will bring them together at Chignik Lagoon next summer for a memorial service and the scattering of her ashes in the water where her husband Hans’ ashes were scattered and where her son Daniel was lost.
Lifelong Alaskan Henrietta Combs, 68, passed away Oct. 6, 2005, at Alaska Native Medical Center surrounded by her family.
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