Julia Ethel Deutsch Waugh

Longtime Alaska resident Julia E. Waugh passed away quietly at Logan Regional Hospital in Logan, UT on September 26, 2004. Julie, as she was known to all, was born April 13th, 1915, in Fargo, ND to Joseph Deutsch and Julia Ethel Doherty. She was christened Julia Ethel Deutsch and she was the third of ten children. Early in Julie?s life the family moved to Bemidji, MN which she described as being ?a rough and tumble logging town?. Julie?s school days were filled with sports, gymnastics, ice skating, and swimming in cold MN lakes. Julie worked at many jobs, beginning at age 15, and waged a long struggle with her father for permission to attend college. Joseph Deutsch, an autocratic father of the old school, saw no reason for a daughter to need an education. With great difficulty and pressure from the Irish side of the family he finally consented to allow her to live at home while attending Bemidji State Teachers College. Upon her graduation from a 2 year teaching program, Julie went to work teaching on an Indian reservation at White Earth, MN. Saving her money for 4 years she returned to college completing her BS in 1940. Julia was proud of her Irish heritage. From her mother?s side she descended from pioneer Irish farmers in Minnesota who first turned the soil of Sibley County in 1854; her father?s family were immigrants from Austria-Hungary who were involved in the building of the city of St. Paul MN in the 1880?s. Many of Julie?s relatives still live in that area. She returned to reservation teaching until WW II broke out. At that time she enlisted in the women?s branch of the USMC rising through the ranks and becoming an officer in 1943. Julie was stationed at Cherry Point, NC Naval Air Station and El Centro Naval Air Station until 1946. While on reserve status but still seeking adventure, Julie applied for civil service jobs eventually receiving appointment to a position at the US Naval Base Kodiak, AK. On the plane from Seattle to Kodiak she made the acquaintance of a tall, curly haired boat builder headed to the same Navy Base to work. After a courtship of fishing, duck hunting and beach picnics, Julie married Hal Waugh in September of 1947. Returning to her vocation she taught school at Kodiak Navy Base. Later the couple moved on to Nenana, in the interior of AK, where she continued her teaching career. She and Hal moved successively to Anchor Point, Hope and Moose Pass on the Kenai Peninsula, Kenny Lake in south central AK and Skagway and Juneau in southeastern AK. By this time the family had grown to include one son, Daniel Joseph, born in Nenana in 1948 and two dogs. Julie was honorably discharged from military service with the rank of 1st Lieutenant in 1953. The Waugh family moved roughly every other year to where ever Julie?s career led them. Hal had also started a new career as a big game guide. As his work took him elsewhere during hunting seasons he spent the winters as house husband, chauffeur and lynx trapper. Julie and Hal filled their free time with outdoor activities such as cross country skiing, bird hunting and summer boat trips. Julie spent many summers between 1957 and 1964 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she received her master?s degree in education in 1960. Julie always had a great love of learning. The Waugh?s spent the decade of the 60?s in Fairbanks where Julie continued teaching at Hunter and Lou F. Joy Elementary Schools. Hal retired from the hunting and outfitting business in 1970 and the couple returned to southeastern AK and settled in Ketchikan. During Julie?s teaching career she spent much of her time in one room schools or mixed grade classes in rural areas on reservations or in bush AK. She continued this tradition in southeastern where she taught in logging camp schools and the Annette Island coast guard base. In 1973 Hal died and Julie moved up to Eagle, on the Yukon River, where she and Hal had planned to retire together. Julie continued her career in the Tok school district and finished up with a three year tour at Mekoryuk on Nunivak Island which is located in the Bering Sea. In the early 80?s Julie again retired to her beloved log home in Eagle to pursue her many interests, gardening, running, skiing and hand crafts. Periodically Julie was lured back to temporary teaching assignments in Eagle and Northway, AK. She commuted seasonally to Ketchikan and eventually left Alaska in 1999. Julie relocated to the mountains of Utah to be closer to her family, son Dan, daughter-in-law Monica and grandchildren Hayle and Spencer. She leaves behind a living legacy in the form of so very many students whose lives were touched by her ability to provide a gift, the love of learning. She was faithful member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Logan, Utah. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 1, 2004 at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 400 North, Logan. Friends and family may call one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Hyde Park Cemetery with military honors. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .