MaGanna Rita Hukill
MaGanna, Rita Hukill, 86, passed away on August 21, 2024 in Nome, Alaska. Born on April 13, 1938 in Wales, Alaska to Clara and Willie Angnabooguk, she was raised in Wales until the family moved to Nome in the 1950’s.
Rita was a talented knitter and seamstress. She was known for her beautiful gloves, hand-crafted Native dolls and mukluk yo-yos. To supplement her income, she sold her crafts at local venues such as the Golden Goose lot, Nome Recreation Center, Blueberry or Salmonberry Festivals, Norton Sound Regional Hospital, Nome Elementary School and Nome Mini Convention Center. Rita was a vendor at the annual Iditarod Craft Fair.
She was a nurse’s aide at Maynard McDougal Memorial Hospital and the “old” Norton Sound Regional Hospital when it was located on Bering Street. Rita worked at the Wallace Inn and Nome Nugget Inn. She was especially proud being Sitnasuak Elder of the Year in 2021.
Rita spent many years living with her husband BR in Grand Saline, Texas while Otis and Paul were toddlers. She worked as a nurse’s aide. Rita was very happy to receive her sons after they spent a lengthy weekend with their Texas aunties, uncles or grandparents. She told of her first-time experiences being on the family farm and around the Hukill horses.
MaGanna said, “Nome is home.” She enjoyed the quiet, simple life she had here. Her favorite television programs were Family Feud, The Price is Right, Let’s Make a Deal, statewide and national news.
Rita woke early to listen to KICY radio programming.
Over the years, she supported her sons and grandchildren as they played basketball at Nome-Beltz, Nome Elementary School or Nome Recreation Center. She enjoyed the sentiments of Christmas and Easter holidays. Camping, time on the tundra, and family gatherings gave her much happiness.
Fort Davis, where the family’s fish camp and marine mammal preparation took place, was a special place to her. The quiet, peaceful, solitude of the ocean and river made her happy. Over the years, Rita enjoyed the tranquility and relaxation of her campsite even during winter months. She enjoyed rod and reel fishing on the Nome River or helping her father set net on the Bering Sea.
Rita was connected to the tundra often reminiscing about relaxing drives on the Teller Road, Kougrok Road, or towards Solomon accompanying either Otis or Paul.
She fondly remembered trips up the Imuruk Basin with her parents to pick salmonberries. She enjoyed river boat rides with her late brother, Don Don (Robert). Rita had vivid memories of picking berries and eating lunch with her sister, Caroline, around Nome’s countryside.
MaGanna was raised in a very large family where they lived a traditional lifestyle of gathering and preserving Native foods. She remembered picking surra, walking the beach to gather clams, and attending school in Wales; church services at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Nome provided her spiritual needs.
Rita became actively involved with the “Arctic Pinkies”, an organization involved with breast cancer awareness and support, after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She and the late Nome Nugget Newspaper owner and editor, Nancy McGuire, became fast friends and acquaintances as they supported “Arctic Pinkies” and its efforts.
Rita is survived by her sons BR “Otis”, Jr. and Paul (Nikki); grandchildren Tasha Hukill, Liam Hukill, Asa Hukill, Alec Johnson, Sonja Hukill, Madison Johnson, and Macy Hukill; great grandchildren Devin Olson, Wyatt Olson, Ryker Hukill, Desmond Allred and Maverick Johnson; and siblings Wilson Angnabooguk, Caroline Angnabooguk, Sharon Niver, Bertha Angnabooguk, Hannah George, Eddie Angnabooguk, Gail Angnabooguk, loving family and special friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, BR; siblings Ruth Koenig, Cordella Zepada, Christopher Angnabooguk, Robert Angnabooguk, and Percy Angnabooguk; and grandchild Tiffany Olson.
May MaGanna’s memory be forever cherished.