Nancy Claire Strand was born in Petersburg, Alaska, on June 20, 1945 to Claire and Erling Strand. As was the tradition in her youth, she worked in the canneries during the summers. She graduated from Petersburg High School in 1963 and briefly attended Oregon State University, but missed home and returned to Southeast Alaska and an internship with the Wrangell Sentinel.
When she returned to Petersburg in her twenties, Nancy edited the Petersburg Press from December 9, 1966 through March 1967. It remained her favorite job she ever had.
Nancy met David Argetsinger while working for the Alaska Department of Highways on a road project in Wrangell in 1968. They were married in February of 1970 and lived in Seattle, Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks while David worked on various construction projects. They had a son, Ernest, before divorcing in 1979.
Nancy lived in Juneau and Fairbanks while raising Ernest, but moved back to her cabin in Petersburg to retire in the 90s. During her career in construction, she mainly worked in Fairbanks, on the North Slope, along the pipeline, and interior Alaska. She lived most of her life in Petersburg and loved it. She knew most everyone and most everyone knew her. Nancy served multiple terms on the city council for Petersburg. She was on the board of the Clausen Museum and was passionate about remembering the history of Petersburg. She enjoyed giving out cardamom to bakers during the holidays, and sharing essential oils and healing herbs. She was a naturalist, an avid reader, and a wicked backgammon and cribbage player. Her cabin on the beach was where she was happiest, particularly with a book and the odd cat.
Nancy died of complications from pneumonia and Parkinson's Disease on June 17, 2025, in Petersburg, Alaska, shortly before her 80th birthday.
Nancy was a bright star, and a force. She never let anyone tell her she couldn't do something – except fish commercially as a teenager. She sued and won to apprentice with the Carpenters' Union, but returned to the Laborers' when she found them more accepting. Nevertheless, she was proud to have led the way for other women to join the Carpenters'.
Her diagnosis with Parkinson's challenged her, as she quickly lost the independence she had fought for her whole life. Having to move out of her cabin and into assisted living was a hard choice for her, but one she faced as best she could. She liked things a certain way and could be a hard person to care for. Her family is grateful beyond words for the love and care this community showed her, for the staff of the Mountain View and the Petersburg Medical Center, and for all the people who came to visit her.
Nancy is survived by her son, Ernest (Tina) Argetsinger; grandson, William; sister, Laura; and brothers, Erling J. and Floyd, and their families.
All are invited to a remembrance of Nancy at Sandy Beach
on July 2, from 1 – 4 p.m.
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