Lawrence Albin Freeman

LAWRENCE ALBIN FREEMAN, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grand father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, passed away at age 90 on June 12, 2014.

Larry was born in Blaine into a large, loving family, to parents Kris and Bena Freeman on March 8, 1924. He grew up on the family farm, where everyone pitched in with the chores. Larry’s parents taught their children the importance of family, unconditional love, and singing in harmony, which they in turn passed on to their children.

Larry started school at Birch Bay, then on to Blaine schools where he graduated in 1942. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he was drafted into the army, spending a year at engineering school in Alabama before shipping out to Europe. He landed at Normandy Beach two months after D-Day, and fought in NE France. He received a medical discharge after suffering frost-bitten feet, and spent six months in hospital in Colorado before returning home to Blaine.

After the war he worked at various jobs, including running a gas station in Bellingham with his brother Ray, working several summers in Alaska, and logging. After delivering Standard Oil for 15 years, he went to work with his brother Web, building and remodeling homes.

In 1949 he met the love of his life, Mary Olason, and they were married in March 2, 1950. They raised 4 kids, while working, having a farm and garden, and building and remodeling homes in their “spare time”. After retirement, they built several more homes, Larry entertained the grandkids with stories and woodworking projects, and showed us all the strength, honesty and love it takes to live a good life.

Larry is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary, children Larry (Penny), Mary, Jerry (Cindy) and Tim (Sue), 9 grandkids, 8 great-grandkids, sister Leona Olason, and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.

Those bright Icelandic blue eyes are now closed, but will light our hearts forever. Love and miss you Dad/Afi.

Private interment will be at Hillsdale Cemetery. A Celebration of Life is being planned for the near future. The family requests that rather than flowers, memorials be made to Stafholt Good Samaritan Center in Blaine, where he received very warm and attentive care in his final days.