Arthur Smith Fulsaas passed away at 85 on July 14, 2017, while residing at Hope Haven Assisted Living Home in Fairbanks after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Art was born Sept. 20, 1931, to Arthur Smith and Esther Marie (Andersen) Pedersen in San Francisco. His mother married William Fulsaas in 1938, and Art took his stepfather's last name. As a boy, Art began lifelong hobbies of stamp collecting and hiking, and became proficient on the piano. Art graduated salutatorian of Oakland High School in 1949 and enrolled at the University of California Berkeley that same year, majoring in geology.
Art served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952-56 as a Romanian language specialist during the Cold War. While stationed on the East Coast, Art met his father and extended family with whom he stayed in touch throughout the rest of his life. Art was also stationed in Germany and took advantage of the opportunity to travel extensively in Europe. Art drove the Alaska Highway with his closest friend, Hawkins Ng, in 1960, and decided Alaska was where he wanted to settle down. He enrolled in graduate classes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. He met the love of his life in Fairbanks, and married Hilda Main on Aug. 12, 1961. Art began a teaching career in Alaska of over 20 years, teaching first grade through college classes. Art and Hilda lived in at least 14 different Alaska communities, his favorite being Haines, where they built their retirement home and lived for 18 years.
During his retirement, Art (and Hilda) taught at private Christian schools, including a year at Malaga Media Center in Spain. Art was a lifetime language student, at one time or another studying French, German, Norwegian, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic and New Testament Greek. Art had a strong faith in Jesus and served his local church in music ministry, as a Sunday school teacher and as a deacon. He and Hilda provided hospitality to many and financially supported many missionaries and ministries.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Art and Hilda moved to Juneau to be near their daughter, Camille, and later to Anchorage and, finally, Fairbanks, where Art spent the final three years of his life close to his daughter, Margaret, and family.
Art lost his wife of nearly 55 years in June 2016, and was also preceded in death by his mother, stepfather, father and his younger sister, Esther Marie Fulsaas.
He is survived by his daughters, Margaret (Phil) Kugzruk and Camille (Monte) Gross; five grandchildren, Meryem (Ben) Udden, and Esther, John, Deland and Annette Kugzruk; and several first cousins.
A memorial services was held July 20 at Fairbanks Funeral Home. Condolences to the family can be sent to Margaret Kugzruk, P.O. Box 83586, Fairbanks, AK 99708.
