Bethel’s Linda Curda selected as inductee to the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame

Ten women to be virtually inducted on Oct. 19, 2021

Alaska Women's Hall of Fame Inductee Linda Curda welcomes everyone during the 2019 Cama-i Dance Festival in Bethel. photo by Greg Lincoln

Congratulations to Linda Curda of Bethel who was selected as an inductee to the 2021 Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame. She, along with nine others, will be honored on October 19th, 2021 during the induction ceremony.

The Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame will be hosting the induction ceremony, which will be virtual, on their website, www.alaskawomenshalloffame.org. These women from across the state will be recognized for their accomplishments within their communities, our great state, and their professions.

Hear the stories at 6 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 19th of a gift shop founder, First Lady of Alaska, banker, dance festival organizer, special education advocate, authors, naturalist, Native woman minister, immigration volunteer and Registered Nurses.

They are from Bethel, Anchorage, Wasilla, Fairbanks, and Kaktovik and have been shaping the face of Alaska for decades, mentored many and continue to inspire future generations.

2021 Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees

Agnes Coyle, 1968-2020. 1973 founder and volunteer manager of the Native Medical Center Craft Shop and Heritage Collection for 40 years, philanthropist.

Brideen Crawford Milner, 1921-1997. Co-founder of City National Bank and Alaska State Bank. Youngest female chairman of a bank board of directors in the world. 

Linda Ruth Curda, Registered Nurse and midwife in Bethel and Old Fangak, South Sudan. Lead organizer of the Cama-i Dance Festival for 30 years, and cultural bridge builder in the Calista region.

Lynn Ellen Hartz, First Advance Nurse Practitioner appointed to Board of Nursing. Wrote regulations and initiated cervical cancer and colon cancer detection for low- income patients, wrote articles and a state-wide quarterly RN newsletter for decades.

Ermalee Strutz Hickel, 1925-2017. First Lady of Alaska twice, championed efforts to assist women in prison and low-income families seeking food, shelter, and education for their children.

Barbara J. Hood, Fairbanks raised, Alaska public defender for low-income defendants state-wide. Civil rights and immigration volunteer and parks activist, philanthropist, and mentor to young women.

Lucile “Lucy” Hope, Teacher, NEA union leader, special education advocate, Special Olympics Ski Patrol, and mentor of many in the Matanuska Susitna Valley, resides in Wasilla.

Margaret “Mardy” Muri, 1902-2003. First woman to graduate from the University of Alaska, author, naturalist, grandmother of the conservation movement in Alaska, Wilderness Society Medal of freedom honoree. 

Cindy Roberts, Bridge Builder co-founder, author of “Cracking the Code” about the Alaska gas pipeline, and co-author of “Sustaining Alaska’s Economy.” 

Mary Ann Warden, 1902-2020. First Alaska Native woman to be ordained. Presbyterian minister in Kaktovik, Juneau, Fairbanks, and in prisons and domestic violence shelters. Brought Tlingit music to churches and crosses to cultural events.

Quyana!