Four-time Iditarod champ (Susan) Butcher dies (51)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14206988/

Four-time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher died Saturday in a Seattle hospital of a reoccurrence of leukemia after a recent stem-cell transplant, her doctor said. She was 51.

Butcher dominated the 1,100-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome in the late 1980s, bringing increased national attention to the grueling competition. She won the 1986 race to become the second female champion, added victories in 1987, ’88 and ’90 and finished in the top four through 1993.

“What she did is brought this race to an audience that had never been aware of it before simply because of her personality,” Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George said.

She also made headlines in 1979 when she helped drive the first sled-dog team to the 20,320-foot summit of Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America.

She and the other women who dominated this race for awhile led to a t-shirt slogan. "Alaska - Where Men are Men and Women Win the Iditarod."

RIP Susan, hope you're mushing with all your loyal sled dogs.

[bonito]

1. A great and sought for Representative of the human race. n/t

[Mind_your_head]

2. Rest in Peace, sweet Susan...... n/t

[Dudley_DUright]

3. Dang, we were very fortunate to see her

sled dog training facility in Fairbanks AK, when we were up visiting my brother-in-law a few years ago. She was a real pioneer and died way too young.

[scarletwoman]

4. Wow. I met her when I lived in Alaska ('89 - '95)

She was such an amazing woman, and totally down to earth. The coolest thing was how she interacted with her dogs -- they were all "people" to her. I always thought the biggest reason she was able to race so well is because her dogs loved her so much and would do anything for her. And she loved and respected them back and would never ask any hardship from them that she wasn't sharing herself.

I wasn't a musher myself, but I was closely involved in the mushing community and worked as a dog handler for a time. It's a totally different world -- hard to describe -- just really fascinating.

I'm so sorry to hear that she's gone. I know she'll live in the hearts of the mushing community forever.

sw

[TomInTib]

5. Now, THAT was my kind of woman

We donated a lot of money to her efforts in the 'rod. My Mother absolutely believed in her. And she was right.

God bless, Susan.

Smooth sledding.

One of a kind.

[madrchsod]

6. that`s really sad

she died way to young

[harpboy_ak]

7. a great loss to Alaska

She inspired a lot of Alaskan girls to think about high endurance sports.

A great loss to all of us.

[Broken_Hero]

8. Oh damn...

Darlin, we will miss you greatly....:(

[Broken_Hero]

9. I never met Butcher

but I did get a chance to meet Libby Riddles...she came to our junior high when I was in the 7th grade, she was pushing some book she wrote...very tough woman...btw, Libby Riddles---->first woman to win iditarod.

[zreosumgame]

22. Cndolences for Susan, went to HS with Libby

glad she is still around

[roguevalley]

10. oh crap. I didn't hear this today. she was pretty ill. her first bone

marrow transplant failed. Very sad thing, this.

[niyad]

11. RIP susan--you were such an amazing inspiration to so many.

[Skittles]

12. she was one of my heroes

a true pioneer

[niyad]

13. the NYT obit:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-Obit-Butcher.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin

[xchrom]

14. oh. my.

what an inspiration and a legend.

an amazing woman.

she will be missed.

[Botany]

15. Damn ..... even though I never met her, I loved her.

LONG MAY YOU RUN

We've been through some things together
With trunks of memories still to come
We found things to do in stormy weather
Long may you run.




You lived the dream, Susan.

[Tsiyu]

16. RIP Susan

She was a tough woman.

And a fine example of what one person can do when they set goals and work hard to achieve them.

:patriot:

[MuseRider]

17. That is too sad.

I read about her but never met her. I was fortunate to spend an afternoon with Mary Shields so I am familiar with what it takes to do what they do. She must have been an amazing woman.

You just know she is mushing with all the dogs that have passed before her.

[leftyladyfrommo]

18. Oh - she has always been my hero.

She set a whole new standard for treating her dogs well.

[Subdivisions]

19. An admirable woman...

may she find a dozen happy dogs and a fast sled in heaven. I'm sure she'll give 'em a helluva run! Godspeed, Susan.

[callous taoboy]

20. Sad. I saw her on Prarie Home Companion in Anchorage when

I used to live there. What a sweet, classy lady. RIP

[knitter4democracy]

21. How awful. May her memory be eternal.

May God have tons of powder and perfect mushing conditions for miles just for her.