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Lathrop High School

Fairbanks, Alaska

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Cheryl May Herning Obituary

Graduation Year Class of 1972
Date of Passing Apr 01, 2022
About Cheryl May Dick left this life behind on April 1, 2022, in her home, with her husband and children at her side. Cheryl was born Oct. 10, 1954, to Donald and Dorothy Herning at St. Joseph's Hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska.
At the time of her birth, Alaska was still a U.S. Territory. Cheryl grew up on her parents' homestead on Chena Hot Springs Road. Cheryl and Alan Dick met when they worked together for the Fairbanks police and fire departments. They married in 1978, marking the beginning of an incredible 43 years of marriage. Cheryl and Alan raised their children together near her family homestead. Once her children were all in school, Cheryl chose to work within the Fairbanks North Star Borough school district and truly loved her work family at Denali Elementary.
Her family came first in all that she did, and dear friends were considered family. Cheryl loved the Alaska outdoors and had a life full of adventures with Alan, her kids and other family and friends. In the summer months, Cheryl could always be found in her yard, nurturing and tending her garden, her flowers and her trees. These thoughtful qualities were even more prominent in her life as she served, loved and encouraged everyone she knew. Cheryl loved her life, lived it to the fullest, and was deeply loved by all who knew her. Her death will not extinguish the light she brought into the lives of so many.
Cheryl was preceded in death by her son, Michael Dick; her stepson, Jason Dykstra; her parents; her stepmother, Jean, and her sister, Colleen. Cheryl is survived by her husband, Alan; her son, Paul (Carina) Alanson; her daughter, Lisa Sturdevant, and her daughter, Katie (Ben) Sanders. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Peyton, Anna, Noah, Michaela and Claire; Alan's grandchildren, Halie, Grace, Sienna, Joey, Allie and Ashton; and her siblings Carol, Bruce and Nancy. There are many other family and friends who will dearly miss her. A private family service will be planned at a later date.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Hospice team that provided remarkable and caring support throughout Cheryl's final days. In lieu of flowers, please give a nurse a hug.
Published by Daily News-Miner on Apr. 6, 2022.
Cheryl May Herning