Don Langdok - Cheechako Sunrise, Sourdough Sunset: Homesteading in Alaska Shapes the Lives of Two Small-Town Kids from Wisconsin

Authors Comments

M any of these recollections had been written down at the time they took place, like the Alaska Travel Log 1969, Dons hunting journals and the Iola Herald newspaper account of our Journey Back Home. Other stories were written many years ago in a creative writing class that I attended, but updated to blend in with the rest of our story.

The past several years, Ive been compiling this story in my mind, writing short memos to myself and collecting photos relating to it.

Trying to recall the experiences wasnt difficult to do, as weve told many of the stories over the years. However, trying to recollect specific dates, critical information and other data pertaining to each article, proved to be more of a challenge. Its been more than 40 years since we first arrived in Alaska and now nearing the age of 70, our memory bank may not be that accurate! Therefore, I apologize for any incorrect facts written down and for any omissions I may have left out.

After all the compilation was put together, I also realized the amount of pages that were accumulating. For the most part, I wrote as Don and I recalled the incidents and various experiences, without any flourishing of the pen. I planned to go back and add more detailed, descriptive and colorful phrases here and there in the actual writing. Then I considered the doubling in size and weight of the book, plus the overall cost factor. So, basically, what you see is what you get, in regards to that matter.

With all that said, we sincerely hope that you will enjoy reading about our experiences living in Alaska. Our family fell in love with the State and set deep roots in Her land. She nourished each of us as we grew; becoming the people we are today. A part of us will always remain there.

We wish to share this love for Alaska with you and can only hope that some of you will be able to visit this great State. For others, we hope you come to know Alaska through us and through the telling of our story.....

Acknowledgements

Alaska and Canadas Yukon by the Alaska State Division of Tourism

Anchorage by the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau

Discover the Worlds of Alaska by the Alaska State Div. of Tourism

The Alaska Airlines Story by Archie Satterfield

The Milepost by Alaska Northwest Publishing Company

There Is No Death by J. L. McCreery

Wild Men, Wild Alaska by Rocky McElveen

Personal Contributions

Allan Ole Olson for Anchorage Police Department info

Bill Gould for Alaska Airlines info

Sid Moen for family info

Anne Picard for friend info

Konni Halford for neighbor info

Cathy Kirk for Chugiak - Eagle River Historical Society

The Decision

P eople always ask us, as to how we ended up in Alaska. We tell them the events that led up to that decision. It was November of 1968. But first we need to tell you how it all began. Donavon Langdok and I (Lanna Smith) were born and raised in the little town of Iola, Wisconsin, population under 1,000. It was predominantly Norwegian in nationality and Lutheran by faith.

We were high school sweethearts, and after graduation, we left home to seek our destiny. I went on to airline school in Minneapolis and landed a job with Delta Airlines in Chicago. Don went to the University of Wisconsin (UW-Stevens Point) for a semester and decided that wasnt what he wanted. Eventually, he started working for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). During the early 1960s, we lived in Illinois, Georgia and eventually married in Florida.

After our daughter, Kari Annelise was born on February 8, 1967, we decided it was time to return to small town living. We came back to Iola and rented a two-story house at 435 E. State Street in the village. It was a cozy home, located next to wonderful neighbors. It was nice to be back where everyone knew your name and old friendships were rekindled.

Both sets of grandparents, Martin and Ruby Langdok, and Russell and Evelyn Smith, lived in Iola and doted on their new grandchild. Don continued to work with the USDA and the first winter back, we had the opportunity to spend several months in Arizona. He inspected produce coming across the border at Nogales. We spent a lot of time, crossing into Mexico and buying goods at the border shops, as well as eating spicy burritos and drinking salty margaritas. It was a wonderful experience and we became good friends with two Mexican couples. When we returned to Iola, our normal routine continued. We were happy and content and life was good! Or so we thought....

November 1968

Don had left the house early that morning for opening day of deer season. He always hunted on the Langdok farm, located 6 miles north of Iola. I had been up earlier to fix Don his breakfast before he went on the big hunt.

Later, Kari woke up and I had just finished feeding her breakfast, when we heard the jeep pull into the driveway. It was about 7:30 a.m. Daddys got his deer! Quick, lets look out the window. We both were so excited! But in fact, we didnt see any deer, only Don getting his gun out of the vehicle. He came into the house, slammed the door and threw his shotgun down on the sofa. Was he ever mad! I just looked at him. What in the world had happened?

Don proceeded to expound, in not too kind of words, what took place. After parking the jeep by the gate where he normally hunted, he walked to the five-acre field, along the creek bottom. All he saw were other hunters in various locations! Disgusted, he turned to walk out and ran into another guy that was walking in to hunt.

The fella asked what Don was doing there, that it was private property. Don said, Yea, I know that. Its my Dads land. The guy said he was from the Fox Valley, an area about 45 miles south of Iola. Don told him, he best leave and now! Typical city hunters who trespass and hunt the land without the owners permission! It was getting worse all the time. Folks in this part of the state, who lived here and paid the taxes on the property, were being violated.

Don was beside himself. He said, Were getting out of here! I asked, Where do you want to go? He answered, Anywhere theres big game and room to move around in. I responded with Well, I want to go where there are mountains. We looked at each other and both said Alaska! Yes, Alaska!

There was no other discussion of other states, no thoughts of moving to the West Coast where most of my family was, no thoughts of how far away Alaska was from home and family in Iola. Alaska it was, no ifs, ands or buts about it. We were moving to Alaska.

That was in November. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday the following week and Christmas, a month later, we thought it best not to say anything to our parents and ruin their holidays for them. All of them had been so happy upon our return to Iola, especially bringing a new little granddaughter for them to love. It wasnt going to be easy.

We did however, go to talk with my grandparents who lived in Waupaca just 12 miles south of town. Clayton and Edna Smith had traveled the Alaska-Canadian Highway (ALCAN) to Alaska back in 1949. We were anxious to get their approval and any information they could give us. Grandpa and Grandma couldnt have been any better. They agreed wholeheartedly with our decision! Alaskas a beautiful state! Its huge and the mountains are rugged and the people are strong-willed! If any two people can make it there, its the two of you! Go now before you have more commitments (such as more children, house payments, job responsibilities).