Dorothy June Leishman

Dorothy June (Hanson) Leishman passed at home in Ferndale, Washington on September 18, 2022 at the age of 92. She was surrounded by her family and deeply loved.

Dorothy was born June 20, 1930 in Baudette, Minnesota to Willie and Eunice Hanson. After her high school graduation she pursued additional training as a Lab Technician. Upon completion she packed up her single cardboard box of belongings,boarded Amtrak to Seattle and began her adventure.

She met her future husband of 64 years, Al, through mutual friends. Dorothy and Al started their life together in the Seattle area and had their three children before moving north to Ferndale which they called home for 45 years.

Al’s mind never stopped coming up with new business ventures. Though all of them, and there were many, Dorothy was the glue that held everything together and the extra set of hands that helped level the 2x4’s.

Coming from a farming background, Dorothy continued to grow a large vegetable garden, and kept up with the canning. Four blueberry bushes planted 40 years ago as twigs came to dominate her life. When there were 200 lbs of blueberries to be picked, no one was going on vacation.

Dorothy never lost the spark in her eye or forgot what it was like to be child. She treasured her grandchildren and was always a willing participant in mischief.

She enjoyed her flower gardens. She was a talented seamstress, crocheted afghans and enjoyed the birds at her feeder. She stayed up late to put together puzzles, watch meteor showers and enjoyed the falling of the ball on New Year’s Eve.

As Dorothy and Al grew older, Dorothy got to say “yes” to her love of travel. Dorothy never met a map she didn’t like, and the idea of the next trip was always on her mind.

Her first two major trips were with a friend’s church to Jerusalem and Egypt. She enjoyed the trip so much, she did it twice! She toured the Pyramids, was baptized in the River Jordan and waded in the Dead Sea. Her next trip was to Scotland with family. Her son-in-law’s parents helped her explore many new places and with them she traveled to Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Portugal and New Zealand.

Domestic travel was loved as much as any international place. Trips to see family and friends with Al were treasured memories. In their late 80s they could be heard reminiscing about “that time at the hotel outside of Billings, Montana was so cold that we had to use the oven to warm the room enough to get dressed and check out early.” They found a diner down the road to warm up with coffee.

Dorothy was always the first one to climb the stairs to the highest lookout and the last reading the plaques on the monuments. She had a thirst for knowledge which she continued to to quench through her years.

As a member of  the United Church of Christ she loved her church family dearly and was disappointed in later years that her health restricted her ability to attend services.

She is survived by her children, Terry (Laurie) Leishman, Vaughn Leishman, Margo Leishman (Bil Moorhead), her grandchild Rowan Moorhead and great grandchild, Paige Leishman Garmin. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Al and her grandson, Craig Leishman.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that donations be made in Dorothy’s honor to United Church of Christ, Whatcom Hospice House and Lydia Place.