Putman, Mary
Mary Putman died July 4, 2010, after complications from a fall at her Anchorage home.
A celebration of life for "Theny" Putman will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 17, at the Pioneer Hall, 612 F St. (second floor, off F Street entrance). A reception will follow.
Flowers may be sent in care of Witzleben South Bragaw Chapel at 1707 S. Bragaw St., or, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Pioneers of Alaska, Women's Igloo No. 4, P.O. Box 101547, Anchorage 99510-1041, the Anchorage Parks Foundation or to a charity of choice.
Mary "Theny" Metheny Putman was born Nov. 19, 1919, to Harrison and Anna Metheny, in Lee's Summit, Mo. She graduated from Park College in Missouri. In 1943, she married Russell H. Putman, whom she met in graduate school. Theny joined Russ in Honolulu, Hawaii, during World War II; she worked on Navy ships as an electrician and their first son, Sumner, was born there.
After the war ended, they lived in Oregon for five years, where their daughter Lesley was born. They built and operated an ice cream parlor in Portland. Trading rain for the sun, the Putmans resided in San Diego, Calif., before the lure of Alaska beckoned. Theny drove a new Studebaker to Fairbanks in April 1953 and though she wasn't planning on staying, she never left Alaska.
She worked for the City of Fairbanks as chief planner for nine years. Two sons, Tok and Fate, were born in Fairbanks. In 1960, the family toured the world by camper, ending in New Zealand and then returned to Fairbanks. When the '64 earthquake hit, Theny moved to Anchorage to work on plans for rebuilding quake-damaged towns. She worked as a professional planner for the Alaska State Housing Authority and Municipality of Anchorage.
In 1982, she retired as the Manager of Acquisition with the city Parks and Recreation Department. Theny was instrumental in the development of the bike trail system and acquiring parks and greenbelts throughout Anchorage. She became known as "the bike trail lady." She was the first woman inducted into the American Institute of Planners.
Theny was a world traveler and enjoyed hiking, biking and skiing. She also enjoyed art, design, crossword puzzles, and reading. She was active in the Pioneers of Alaska Women's Igloo No. 4, the American Association of University Women, and The Prospector's Society, serving each of these organizations as president. Theny was secretary of the Alaska AFSCME Retiree Chapter 52. She was also involved with the Real Alaskans Association.
She is survived by her daughter, Lesley (Pete) Stuart of Bellevue, Wash., and Fairbanks; and sons, Tok (Phyllis) of Valdez, and Fate (Kimberly) of Juneau; grandchildren, Seth and Lacey Stuart and Brooks, Carl, Kiana, Jesse, Joel, Jasmine, and Summer Putman; sister, Ethel (Willard) Bricker; and brother, Dave (Lois) Metheny; and their families.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Russell; her son, Sumner; and sister and brother-in-law, Rene and Bill Knight.
Published in adn.com from July 13 to July 14, 2010