Obituaries

Jul 27, 2019

Nyla Rae (Wiersma) Van Soest Smith, 69, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Lynden, WA.

Nyla was born on May 19, 1950 in Bellingham, WA to Ray and Norma (Meenderinck) Wiersma.  She graduated from Lynden Christian High School with the class of 1968 and soon after married Ron Van Soest.  Together they...

Jul 25, 2019

Gloria June Balzer went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 25th, 2019. She is now rejoicing and reunited with her dear husband Elden who passed away last fall. Gloria was born in her family’s farmhouse on September 8th, 1933 to proud parents Melvin and Hester Haugen. Her siblings Elizabeth and Isabel sadly passed away...

Jul 22, 2019

Lyle Clayton Dralle (Rusty), long time resident of Whatcom county, passed away peacefully at his home in Custer, WA on July 22, 2019. Born on Dec. 11, 1928 in Presho, SD, the 7th of 14 children born to Clarence and Hulda (Johnson) Dralle.  Rusty grew up and went to school in the Mission Hill, Gayville area of SD. He spent...

Jul 22, 2019

Jul 22, 2019

Jul 18, 2019

Steve Milward died of an apparent heart attack in Bellingham on July 18, 2019. He was a special character and he will be missed and not forgotten.  Steve grew up in Aloha, Washington until 1966, then Pomeroy, Washington where he graduated from high school. Steve earned an AA in Forestry from Olympic College and attended Western Washington University and graduated...

Jul 18, 2019

Carmen Delores McNeil-Hanson, age 88, of Ferndale passed away on Thurs., July 18, 2019 in Blaine. At this time no services are planned.

Jul 16, 2019

Ray Butler, age 80, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at the Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham.  Ray was born June 18, 1939, in the same house that his mother was born in the township of Lone Hill, Arkansas.  he was about 18 months when his family moved to Southern California.

On a family vacation in 1968 to...

Jul 15, 2019

Per “Peter” Andrew Crosley was born March 18, 1963 in Seattle, WA at Northlake Hospital and passed away Monday, July 15, 2019 at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, WA he was 56 years old. His first name Per which is Swedish for Peter came from both grandfathers on both sides of his family.  He is survived by his...

Jul 15, 2019

Norma Louise Christensen passed away Monday, July 15, 2019 in Bermuda.  Norma was born September 17, 1932 in Bellingham, WA to Norman and Theresa Anderson, founders of the Hillview Dairy in Bellingham.  She was a 1950 graduate of Bellingham High School.  Norma attended the University of Washington where she met and later married Fred Christensen. They lived in Vancouver, B.C....

Jul 10, 2019

Selwyn Keith Anderson, age 83 passed away July 10, 2019. He was born in Eugene Oregon.  He was preceded in death by wife of 63 years, Margrate Anderson and son Robert. And is survived by sister Betty, two daughters Julie (Jim) Peterson & Charlene (Steve) Hitz & grandchildren Jennifer, Jessie, Heather, Hillary, Josh, Aaron, Jessie Marie & great grandchildren, nieces...

Jul 6, 2019

Tom LaPlante, a long time Bellingham resident, passed away unexpectedly at his home over the 4th of July weekend.  Tom was born in Bellevue, Washington on May 31, 1963.  After graduating from Newport High School in Bellevue, he attended Western Washington University where he obtained a degree in Geology.  Following graduation, Tom made Bellingham his home and became a tile...

Jul 3, 2019

Burton Garrett Baxter, age 88, loving husband, father and grandfather passed away in Bellingham, Wednesday, July 3, 2019 after a courageous year and half long battle with Pancreatic Cancer. He was born November 9, 1930 in Bellingham to Frank and Erma (Jones) Baxter, and lived his whole life in Bellingham. Burton married Charlene Whipple on March 3, 1951, they enjoyed...

Jul 2, 2019

Rick (Charles R.) Peterson, born on Dec. 9, 1951 in Tucson, AZ. Joined his brother Mike whom he was very fond of, his mother Anna Ruth, father Robert Noth and son Michael J. Uttecht on July 2, 2019. Rick graduated from Borah High in 1969. He worked in all phases of construction, building new and repairing ships and boats. He...

Jun 24, 2019

Dean Thomas Nelson, 72, of Custer, Washington, passed away on June 24, 2019.  

Dean was born in Mankato, Minnesota October 22, 1946 to Cleo Nelson and Dorothy (Connelly) Nelson of Butternut Township, Lake Crystal, Minnesota.  Dean grew up on his grandparents Tom & Ella Nelson’s farm where Dean helped farm 160 acres, and raised Holsteins, chickens, and pigs. Dean...

Jun 23, 2019

Dawn Marie Thompson, was born May 11, 1964. Dawn went to her heavenly father June 23, 2019.  Dawn has a very loving heart, loyal and kind to everyone around her.  Dawn leaves behind her husband, Rodney Thompson, they celebrated over 35 years of marriage also, daughters Kate and Mariah.  Her son Kyle went to heaven, August 2, 2018.  Dawn had...

Jun 23, 2019

Douglas H. “Bubba” Smith, age 64, of Ferndale passed away at his home Sunday, June 23, 2019. He was born May 4, 1955 in Bellingham to parents Harold Frank Smith and Laura Lucille (Anderson) Galovin. Bubba graduated from Ferndale High School with the Class of 1973. He worked in maintenance with various Oil Refinery Companies. When he wasn’t working he enjoyed...

Jun 22, 2019

Paula Suzanne Blanchard, age 72, of Mount Vernon, passed away in Mount Vernon on Saturday, June 22, 2019.  A graveside service will be held at 2:55 PM on Friday, June 28, 2019 at Bayview Cemetery, 1420 Woburn Street, Bellingham, WA  98229. 

Jun 19, 2019

Craig Avery Smith, age 80, of Ferndale, was born in Bellingham July 22, 1938, and died peacefully in his sleep June 19, 2019 at his home. He is now in heaven with his Savior Jesus Christ.

He retired from US West Telecommunications after 34 years, and worked at Moles Funeral Home for 5 more years.

Craig was an avid volunteer....

Jun 14, 2019

John S. Hartzog, age 64, of Birch Bay, WA passed away suddenly Friday, June 14, 2019. John will be missed dearly by his family and friends. John was born June 14, 1955 to parents Gene and Doris E. (Hunt) Hartzog in Lima, Ohio. John was preceded in death by his parents. John was survived by his wife Trisha. Daughter Melissa...