Richard R. Hostetter Sr.
Longtime Ninilchik resident Richard R. Hostetter Sr. died Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2000, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He was 76.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, at the Carol Bock Hall at the Ninilchik Fairgrounds. Pastors Paul Kupferschmidt and Jim Kruse will officiate. Burial will follow at the American Legion Cemetery in Ninilchik. A gathering will follow at the Ninilchik Senior Center.
Mr. Hostetter was born Feb. 15, 1924, in Lancaster, Pa., to Amos Sr. and Anna Hostetter. He served in the U.S. Air Force in 1943 until receiving his honorable discharge in 1947. Mr. Hostetter was a World War II veteran who served in a number of European countries. In 1948 he moved to Ninilchik, where he homesteaded with his wife Marian Jean Steik, who he married in Seldovia in 1948. He owned one of the first buses in Ninilchik as well as being the first coach of the Ninilchik boys basketball team. He worked as a fisherman and as a foreman of highway maintenance in Ninilchik for the Alaska Department of Transportation.
Mr. Hostetter was raised in a Mennonite church and attended the Ninilchik Assembly of God church.
His family wrote, "He was a very spiritual man who was committed to God, his wife, family and friends. His strength was in his faith, compassion and friendliness. Dick was a man of integrity who never said no to helping others carry their load of problems. Dick loved God with all his heart. His legacy lives on in the hearts of family and friends."
Mr. Hostetter was preceded in death by his father and mother; daughter Rhonda Pribbenow; sisters Grace Forbes, Mildred Kahn and Marion DeEugenio; brothers Robert Hostetter and Amos Hostetter Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marian Hostetter of Ninilchik; daughters and sons-in-law, Rhoda and Dale Dolifka of Soldotna, Roberta and Steve Johnson of Barrett, Minn., and Ruth and Ron Sterling of Anchorage; son and daughter-in-law, Richard Jr. and Maureen Hostetter of Ninilchik; sisters Bernice Martin of Lancaster, and Earla Bennett of Elkart, Ind.; grandchildren Aaron, Jeffrey, and Kara Dolifka, all of Soldotna, Meagan and Gretchen Pribbenow, both of Soldotna, Dan, Sarah, and Rebecca Johnson, all of Barrett, and Nathan, Whitney and Zachary Sterling all of Anchorage, Tammy Collins of Soldotna, Koral Hostetter of Soldotna, Kandi Hostetter of Anchorage, and Jesse and Janine Hostetter both of Ninilchik; granddaughter, Krystal and her husband Bryan Walden of Soldotna; grandson Tim and his wife Sarah Johnson of Yakima, Wash.; great-grandchildren Isaiah Johnson of Yakima, and Trevor Walden of Soldotna; nephew Bob and his wife MaryJane Schlott of Finksburg, Md.; and numerous other family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Anchorage Rescue Mission, 2823 E. Tudor, Anchorage, AK 99507 or to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 101459 Anchorage, AK 99510.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.