Lou Fixsen

Pauline “Lou” Fixsen was born in Weiser, Idaho to Weldon and Edith Holmes. The second of 2 daughters. Only 11 months apart. They have remained way close regardless of distance.

At the age of 1 Lou lost her mother in a tragic car accident. At the age of 9 her family left Midvale, Idaho with the only mother she knew Fran Lanway Holmes, her dad Bill, sister Billie and headed to Alaska to start a new life. While their dad worked all over the state in construction maintenance. They traveled along and lived in tent camps with school being taught by their mother, who also often cooked for work crews and became known for her innovative use of creating meals with what was at hand. That trait was passed onto Lou. Lou became known for her soups she served to the grandkids in later years. Each being different.

Lou graduated from Cordova, Alaska and attended the University of Alaska for a short time before living in Unalakleet. In 1941 her family finally decided Lake Minchumina, in the heart of Alaska, would be their permanent home. Bill quit the CCA and they started the only agricultural homestead in Lake Minchumina and later the local power Co. called Simloh Supply while their mother wrote and had a small store called Cache Merchandise. In diaries it was stated as a dream come true for the couple and Lou. By then Billie had married and left home.

Lou excelled in hard work as well as plucking chickens that she sold, and these were skills they all learned, as they had traveled from place to place. Something new was focused on as they moved to a new job site.

While in Minchumina she was married to Wallace G, Fixsen. They met there as he was the new BLM fire control officer, in the Interior of Alaska. Stationed in McGrath. This made Wallace and Lou the first couple married in that area in March of 1953. Though he was a pilot and flew his own plane he borrowed a more comfortable plane to fly them and the minister to Fairbanks, AK, over 150 miles of wilderness to start their life together. While flying they ran out of gas and ended up having to land on a sand bar by the river just short of Fairbanks and radioed for gas. Then continued to Fairbanks making a spot in the newspaper.

They had 2 daughters. When school time came, they relocated with Penny and Leah to Delta Junction, Alaska, where a new BLM fire compound had been established. She enjoyed gardening and building a home there in a new growing community.

On December 25, 1967, they traveled the Alcan Highway and transferred to Shoshone, ID, where he continued to work for the BLM in fire control until his retirement. Following his death of Kidney Failure in the June of 1983 Lou sold her place and moved to Twin Falls where she lived in her corner apartment on Blue Lakes until the age of 92 when she moved to Jerome, ID. Living in DeSano House till the time of her passing.

Her family and home-life were the major focus of her life and she gave all of her creative energy to everything she did, especially cooking, homemaking, gardening, hard work (especially embroidery and knitting), for family as well. She tried to be helpful to those around her as much as possible even into her later years. Taking neighbors to appointments and meals etc..

Lou is survived by her daughters Penny (Tom) Green of Lake Minchumina, Alaska Leah Fixsen of Gooding, Idaho. Grandchildren: Becky Green of San Tan, AZ, Stacy Moretz (James) of Gooding, Idaho and Steven (Dayna) of Fairbanks, Alaska; grandchildren Jade and Tyrese Moretz of Gooding. Idaho and Kyliey Moretz of Wendell, ID, Benjamin and Lydia Green of Fairbanks, Alaska; Sister Billie Naomie Miller of Newton, Kansas and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Lou will be held on Monday, September 16, 2024 at 11:00 am at Wilks Magic Valley Funeral Home at 2551 Kimberly Road Twin Falls, Idaho 83301. 

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