Body of Missing White Mountain Elder Is Recovered

The remains of missing White Mountain elder Lincoln “Mike” Simon were recovered from Golovin Bay on Thursday afternoon.

Simon went missing in early November after his four-wheeler broke through the ice. Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) Sergeant Daniel Harrelson reported that three search-and-rescue boats went out on the bay last Thursday (May 16) to look for Simon. One of the boats recovered Simon’s body about 3 miles away from the site of the accident, near the mouth of the Fish River and Golovin Bay.

Harrelson says crews had been waiting for ice to clear so they could resume searching after being suspended for the winter.

Troopers responded to the incident Friday and had Simon’s remains sent to Anchorage for an autopsy.

Lincoln “Mike” Simon was the Vice President of the Tribal Council of White Mountain, and community members described him as “always sharing of what he had.”

Harrelson expressed gratitude on behalf of White Mountain for all of the support and donations the community has received during the months of searching. He reminds all Alaskans to use care when traveling on ice.

Image at top: during search-and-rescue efforts in November 2018, a homemade poster in Golovin bore photos of elder Lincoln “Mike” Simon, Sr., with the message “May he be brought home.” Photo: Emily Hofstaedter, KNOM.