Fairbanks News tribute to Susan and Granite; memorial service date

Fairbanks News-Miner'Through blizzards of doubt and fear,' Butcher never gave upBy Dermot ColePublished August 12, 2006Posted in Local, Dermot Cole column

LEADING: After winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race three times in a row, Susan Butcher finished second in 1989.UA President Mark Hamilton recalls watching news coverage of that event and how she responded when reporters asked about finishing second. "She answered the question humbly, but as journalists are prone to do, the reference to second place was repeated in the next question,"

Hamilton said."Susan firmly instructed the reporter not to ask again, saying, 'This is Granite's last race and I told him we won.'"

He was immediately won over by what she said about her great lead dog. Years later, when Hamilton met Butcher he began to tell a story about the finish-line quote that had moved him so deeply. She hadn't forgotten. She finished the sentence for him.

Hamilton, the poet, offers this tribute:

Lead dog, breaking trail through blizzards of doubt and fear,Running to help the team, as if chasing Joe Garnie 40 miles from Nome.You said years ago, before this latest race, "There is only one sad thing-giving up."We didn't give up, we the fearful ones, wanting guides for the darknessof that good night.Wanting trails broken for us, promises kept, nature controlled.We only see the Northern Lights; can't feel them in our soul as you do.

We didn't give up, not on you.You were hard as granite, tough as the arctic, gentle as a sled dog,Unflinching in the darkness.Susan, I swear to you . you won.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------SERVICE: The memorial service for Susan Butcher, who died of leukemia a week ago, will be Sept. 2 at 4 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall at UAF. If you care to send condolences to the family, write: The Monson Family, Box 60249, Fairbanks, AK 99706.