Dan Seavey Obit

DAN SEAVEY, 87, died May 8, 2025 in Alaska. He was born at home on Aug. 19, 1937, in Deerwood Village, Minnesota, to Martin Blake Seavey and Celia (Etzler) Seavey. He attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse in Deerwood, and high school at Crosby-Ironton, in Crosby, where he excelled at wrestling, and participated in general shenanigans with his older brother Joe. He met Shirley Anderson at a county fair, in 1956, where he was working as a carnival wrestler. They dated for two years, and because he was still underage, had to get a permission slip from his parents to marry her. They tied the knot on July 12, 1958. By 1963, they had three children, Dan had graduated from college with his teaching certificate, and was teaching at the boys reform school in Red Wing. His lifelong dream to move to Alaska and become a dog musher was inspired by the old time radio show, “Challenge Of The Yukon.” Later the title was changed to “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon,” which featured Sergeant Preston and his sled dog Yukon King. Seavey accepted a position teaching history at Seward High School in Seward, AK, and the adventure began. The first installment came in the spring of 1964, when Alaska was hit with “The Quake.” That was followed by a move out of town to Box Canyon, and into the house the family still occupies today. There was no electricity, running water or central heating. Over the years, the homestead was modernized, and finally, by 1979, they even had a telephone. Dog mushing began immediately. And his involvement in Alaska’s official sport lasted until his final day, still keeping a small team of dogs for his own enjoyment. Prior to its inaugural running, the Iditarod was planned in great part around the Seavey family kitchen table. Shirley’s great cooking and coffee provided the fuel. Then, in 1973, the race was a go, and Dan Seavey was running it. And for more than 50 years, he has been involved in keeping the race going, preserving the history of the Historic Iditarod Trail, and recognizing the importance of the sled dog in the history of the state of Alaska. He served on the ITC Board of Directors. He was a founding member of the Seward Iditarod Trailblazers, and instrumental in establishing the Iditarod Trail as a National Historic Trail. He competed in five Iditarod Races. He taught World, American and Alaska History for 20 years at Seward High, as well as the first outdoor education course, called “Outdoor Survival,” and yes, dog mushing was a required element. He was also the wrestling coach for many years. Seavey’s book, “The First Great Race,” is a memoir of his life in Alaska and a detailed accounting of the first Last Great Race. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Billy, Dale and Joe Seavey, sisters Audrey, Maxine, and Helen Seavey, and a grandson, as well as his beloved wife, Shirley, who passed in August of 2017. He is survived by his children, Mitchell (Janine), Tracie (Louis Audette, Jr.), and Darian (Siri); nine grandchildren,  20 great-grandchildren; a brother, Alvin, and many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, 2025, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Avtec Gymnasium, 519 Fourth Avenue in Seward.