The following obituary is provided courtesy of RosalieAnn, FAG Member (#46559872)

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Alex Andrew Aiken passed from this life on Thursday May 3, 2007 at his home in Phoenix, Ariz.

Born Sept. 28, 1926 in Bisbee, Ariz., he was the ninth child born to James and Emma Johannah (Balander) Aiken. The family lived in Bisbee until moving to Lead, when he was about 7-years-old where he lived until adulthood. Alex began work at a young age selling newspapers, also bottles and cans to earn money for the family and for treats for his siblings and friends. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Special Services arriving in Nagasaki, Japan right after the war was declared over.

Returning home he spent time in Georgia picking peanuts, painting houses in Wyoming, as well as working for the Homestake Mining Co., Coca Cola Bottling Company and several dairies around Lead. In Arizona he worked for Ortho Chemical, Deer-o Paint, Coca Cola Bottling Company and Mission Dairy. Back in Deadwood he met Mildred Sever and they married in 1950 and moved to Washington where he worked for Boeing. They moved to Phoenix, Ariz. Alex was employed as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service where he was known for going above and beyond and truly providing service to the customer on his route. He had the distinction of being the most bit letter carrier receiving 26 bites during his career. He made the papers when in 1957 the customers showered him with gifts after the birth of his long awaited daughter Alexis. Mildred died in 1973. In 1975 Alex married Sandra Louise Solheim. In 1982 Alex retired from the postal service after 31 years and he and Sandra began summering back in Lead where they purchased the home he grew up in. Alex was asked to go to work at PING serving in several departments before he and Sandra took over as Sales reps for PING in the Black Hills area of South Dakota. They thoroughly enjoyed serving in this position and did this for several years before retiring.

Alex is survived by his wife Sandra, daughter Alexis Bartels (Rick), five grandchildren, Andrea Richard (Philip), Debra Lopez (Mickey), Julie and Autumn Benedict and Drew Bartels as well as four great-grandchildren: Jaylin, identical twins Jenna and Jordan and Brandon; three sisters Esther Western, Mary Jo Albin (DeWayne) and Bonnie Lowell (Virgil) as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.


He was preceded in death by his parents, nine siblings and his first wife.

Visitation at Hanson Mortuary 8314 N. 7th St. Phoenix, AZ 85020. Services will be Thursday, May 10, 2007 at Freeway Baptist Church 8501 N. Black Canyon Highway Phoenix, AZ 85021. A private family graveside service will be held. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or Sunrise Health and Hospice.

Black Hills Pioneer May 08, 2007

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