Jirdes Winther Baxter, Last Survivor of 1925 Nome Serum Run, Dies at 101

Jirdes Winther Baxter, recognized as the last living survivor of the 1925 diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska, died in early January 2026 at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau.

Baxter was born in February 1924 to parents who had immigrated from Norway to Nome. At about 11 months old, she was hospitalized with diphtheria during the outbreak that led to a nearly 700-mile relay to deliver antitoxin serum to the remote community.

During the epidemic, Baxter and her two brothers received the final doses of serum available at the time. Their mother was administered the first dose from the new shipment once it arrived in Nome.

She remained in quarantine for 22 days, which included her first birthday. Family members were present during her final hours in the hospital.

What the numbers show

• Baxter was born on February 25, 1924
• The 1925 serum run covered approximately 674 miles
• About 20 mushers and 150 sled dogs participated in the relay

The 1925 serum run, also called the Great Race of Mercy, involved transporting diphtheria antitoxin by dog-sled relay from Nenana to Nome. The effort took five and a half days and was organized to address the outbreak in the isolated Alaskan town.

The relay, which included 20 mushers and around 150 sled dogs, became the basis for the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The event is now recognized as a major part of Alaskan history.

In 2005, the Iditarod Trail Committee named Baxter an Honorary Musher in recognition of her connection to the historic serum run. This honor highlighted her unique place in the story of the 1925 event.

Baxter’s life spanned more than a century, and her experiences during the epidemic and the serum run were acknowledged by organizations connected to Alaskan heritage and the Iditarod.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.