Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

William L. Axford Jr.

William Lloyd Axford Jr., 57, passed away in his sleep on Sept. 27, 2006.

Bill was born in Detroit on April 12, 1949. He and his parents, William and Lorraine, along with his two sisters, Donna Jean and Patricia Ann, later moved to Bellflower, Calif., where he grew up.

At 18, he married Irene Van Hoose and had two children, Donna Marie and Norman Edward. Although he and Irene later divorced, he kept in contact with her and was close and loved by her family, especially her mother, Clara “Dee” Delores Van Hoose.

He moved to Alaska more than 20 years ago, and although he tried several times to return to California to be close to his family, he just couldn’t stay in California. He loved Alaska and preferred living here to anywhere in the United States.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Norman, who died at birth; his father, William Lloyd Axford Sr.; his mother, Lorraine Mary Axford; his sister, Patrica Ann Filley; and his best friend, his dog Copper (who died only weeks before him).

He is survived by his daughter, Donna Marie Brady; his son, Norman Edward Axford; his grandchildren, Stephanie Renae Brady, Clara Marie Justice Minson-Axford, Kateland Axford, Chance Michael Tyler and Andrea Clegg; his sister, Donna Jean Lentz; his nephews, David and Tom Lentz, Anthony and Kyle Filley; and lots of great-nieces, all of whom loved him and will miss him very much.

A memorial service was held for him at the Fairbanks Rescue Mission officiated by the Rev. David Phillips.

The family is attempting to gather his personal effects. If you have information regarding his belongings, please contact the Rev. Phillips at 452-5343.

Arrangements were by Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.

Samuel L. Banks Jr.

The Rev. Samuel Leon Banks Jr., soldier for the Lord, went home to rest in the arms of Jesus on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006.

Born May 15, 1927, in Magnolia, Ark., to Samuel and Elizabeth Banks Sr., he was the oldest of four children.

Samuel served his country in the U.S. Navy and received an honorable discharge in 1951.

Samuel married Bobbi Jean Mills on May 15, 1960. This year, 2006, celebrated his 79th birthday and their 46th wedding anniversary. They parented four children.

The Rev. Banks spent his adult life as a servant to the Lord and an advocate for his people. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the March to Selma during the civil rights movement. He was an active member of the NAACP for several years.

Rev. Banks was highly respected in the communities in which he lived, both as an activist and a minister of the Gospel. He founded Village Baptist Church in Marin City, Calif., in 1958, serving as pastor for 15 years, through 1973.

In 1973 he was called to pastor Corinthian Baptist Church in Fairbanks where he pastored for 21 years until 1994, then received the honorary title of pastor emeritus, for his years of dedicated service. As a highly respected member of the Fairbanks community, for several years he hosted a weekly television program, “Perspective,” which highlighted issues and events within the black community. He was regularly invited to speak at or take part in many religious, political, and social community functions. One memorable event was when he received a formal invitation to give the invocation at a luncheon for then-president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. The event was held at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

He was a resident of Fairbanks for 31 years before moving to Gurnee, Ill., in 2004.

The Rev. Samuel Leon Banks Jr. touched the lives of many people. His love for the Lord and fellow man was reflected in his daily life. He was a warm humorous person with a positive outlook on life.

His family said, “Loved dearly by his family, he is truly missed.”

He is survived by his wife, Bobbi Jean Banks; children, Samuel L. Banks III of Anchorage, JaVette L. and Randolph Hall, Tosca A. Gardner, and JaVon T. Banks, all of Gurnee; grandchildren, Quellencia Hall, Tyshana Gardner, Quintessa Hall, Quencey Hall, Quinten Hall, Quenalyn Hall, and the soon-to-be born “Q” baby Hall; his siblings, Claudis Banks of Berkeley, Calif., Dorothy Parker and husband, Earl, of Petaluma, Calif., and Alma Simmons of Philadelphia, cherish the wonderful memories of their loving brother. He also has several nieces, nephews, and cousins that cherish wonderful memories of him.

Coral E. Friborg

Coral Ester Friborg, 75, passed away Oct. 4, 2006, at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

Coral was born April 1, 1931, in Bagley, Minn., to Oswald and Cora Hanson. She grew up on a farm in Bagley where life centered around cattle, horses, chickens and haying, gardening and attending a country school. It was a good time to grow up surrounded by families that had emigrated from Scandinavia and thrived on hard work.

Coral married Obert Friborg in 1952. Obert’s parents had moved from Norway to Minnesota when he was a youngster. This petite, lovely young woman caught his eye and he soon asked her to be his wife. They spent three years in Walnut Creek, Calif., where Obert worked with his brother in construction. Tiring of that, they headed to Alaska in 1956.

They lived in their mobile home in Berry’s Trailer Court (where the North Star Borough building is now located) alongside other families from Bagley. Together, these families watched black-and-white TV and saw the dawning of the Space Age with the launching of Sputnik in 1957. Coral and Obert finally settled in Aurora Subdivision, where they lived for many years. One child was born to this union in 1960, Michael Friborg, who grew up in Fairbanks and still resides here. He was the joy of Coral’s life.

Coral loved birds of all types and was content to just sit and enjoy them from her window. She also loved fishing. Her biggest thrill in life was catching a 200-pound halibut in Valdez. She was an expert fly fisherwoman and would catch fish when no one else could. She often said it didn’t matter if she caught anything or not, if she could just spend time fishing.

Coral and Obert traveled around Alaska in their motor home, often to construction sites where Obert worked. She loved this and camping and hunting, too. Her family and others knew Coral as a hard-working woman who loved a meticulously kept house and enjoyed her garden and flowers tremendously.

Coral kept her spirits up even though she was basically housebound for the past 12 years. Coral particularly enjoyed having folks stop by to visit, especially remembering times of growing up and the fun she and her family had in the last 50 years that she had lived in Fairbanks. Everyone will miss her happy, contagious laugh that filled the room.

She will be missed by her many relatives and friends especially her friends and neighbors in Fairbanks.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Eileen Hanson Jasperson; and grandson, James Tyler Friborg.

Coral is survived by her devoted husband of 54 years, Obert; her loving son Michael and his wife Jeanette; sisters, Evelyn Hanson Speer and family of Concord, Mont., Jeanette Hanson Brown and family of Bagley, Leona Hanson Olsen and family of Cohasset, Minn., and Florence Hanson Springler and family of Evansville, Ind.

Visitation will be held from noon to 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 9, at Fairbanks Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at Northern Lights Memorial Park.

Arrangements were by Fairbanks Funeral Home and Crematory.

Donald R. Etheredge

Longtime Fairbanks resident Donald Raymond Etheredge, 63, passed away Oct. 5, 2006, in Golden, Colo.

He had been a resident here for 36 years. Don worked for Arco at Prudhoe Bay during construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.

He is survived by his children, Greg and Sherry; mother, Iona; sister, Jane; and one grandchild.

There will be a private family service.

Condolences may be sent to the family at 14325 Crabapple Road, Golden, CO 80401.

Arrangements were by Olinger Funeral Home.