Fredrick Hans Elvsaas

May 28, 1933 – Sept. 25, 2017

Fredrick Hans Elvsaas, 84, a respected Seldovia elder and tribal leader, died on Sept. 25, 2017, at his home in Seldovia.

A celebration of his life and community potluck will be held Oct. 14 at the Tribal Conference Center in Seldovia and at a time to be announced.

Elvsaas was born May 28, 1933, in Seldovia, Alaska, to Herman and Agnes (Ponchene) Elvsaas. He was a lifelong commercial fisherman and a proud Alaska Native advocate. In his life, he served the public in many capacities but none that brought him as much pride as being president and CEO of the Seldovia Native Association Inc. from its founding until his retirement. He was a former CIRI board member, chief of police, school board member, tribal chief, city council member, and federal subsistence council board member. Elvsaas was the Seldovia Native Association President from 1972 until he retired in the late 1990s and then returned as President in 2017. He also was chair of Southcentral Foundation’s Traditional Healing Elder’s Council from 1999-2011.

Elvsaas provided for his family starting in the early days of the crab fishing and at the family fish camp in upper Cook Inlet. He spent the best and worst days of his life at Kustatan and raised all of his children and grandchildren with his wife Gladys along the shores of Redoubt Bay in the summers. He always longed to get back to Kustatan; it was his motivation in later years to go there one last time. It was Elvsaas’ wishes that his ashes be laid to rest at Kustatan where he spent so many years surrounded by family and friends.

He will be truly missed.

He was preceded in death by his father, Herman Magnus Elvsaas; mother, Agnes Elvsaas; wife, Gladys Elvsaas: sisters, Suzanne Keezer, Loucairia Hampton, Patreena Getty and Inga Cafferey; brothers, Allen Elvsaas and Peter Elvsaas; children, Allen Elvsaas, Ruth Elvsaas, Judith Peterson, and Joyce West.

He is survived by his brother, Herman Magnus Elvsaas of Seattle, Washington; sons, Fredrick S. Elvsaas, Sr. of Anchorage, Boy Dexter Ogle of Homer and Leonard Ogle of Washington; grandchildren, Paula Elvsaas of Seldovia, Cindy Peterson and Marylyn, both of Kenai, Bobby Towne of Anchorage, John West of Kenai, Amber West of Tennessee, Fred S. “Bear” Elvsaas, Jr. of Wasilla, Keneth Ogle and Alaina Ogle, both of Homer, Cindy and Dawn Ogle, both of Washington, and Hoyt Ogle of Anchorage.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.

In his last years of life, Elvsaas may not have been steady on his feet but his mind was always barking orders. He made sure the net was in the water, fish were in the smoke house and berries were being picked. He was surrounded by Great Grandchildren that truly brought him joy. His stories never ended and his skills of fishing the “Old Way” were pasted down to many. The family asks that in Elvsaas’ memory, positive memories are created and lasting impressions are made with a member of todays youth, as he did many times in his life.

A heart felt Thank You to the staff of South Penninsula Hospital for all the love and compassion you showed our family through out the years.