Haley Stevens: “my heart became heavy with sadness as I learned this weekend of the death of my close personal friend Ruth Burnett. Ruth…”

“my heart became heavy with sadness as I learned this weekend of the death of my close personal friend Ruth Burnett. Ruth Burnett was not only a person who gave me great support as the manager of my Fairbanks office, she, her husband Wally Burnett, Sr. and I became friends 50 years ago after my family and I moved to Fairbanks. As the years went by, we kept in touch and from the days of my earliest Senate campaign Ruth and Wally supported me. Ruth's time as mayor of Fairbanks brought us even closer together and I was delighted when Ruth agreed to be my representative in Fairbanks. She worked tirelessly, without regard to office hours. And she was responsible for bringing to our attention the plight of thousands of interior Alaskans so that my staff and I in Washington, DC could try to help them. She gave me many ideas on where to send Federal money in the interior so that we could do the most good for the most people. Ruth's whole family pitched in to support her. Wally Burnett, Jr. was a leading member of my Washington, DC staff and the Senate Appropriations staff. Public service has been a hallmark of the Burnett family--a family with a great Alaskan tradition. Ruth will be dearly missed, but her spirit will live on through the great family she leaves behind and through the many lives she touched.”