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Anna “Betty” Zylstra
Anna “Betty” Zylstra went home to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 76 on Monday, Sept. 29, 2008.
She was born on Aug. 23, 1932, to John C. and Jennie (Stroosma) DeJong in Hospers, Iowa, where she attended school as a young girl. On Feb. 11, 1953, she married Paul Zylstra in Lynden. Knitting was a favorite hobby, and as a homemaker Betty shared her gift of hospitality entertaining family and friends in her home. She also loved to travel and was a member of Third Christian Reformed Church.
Paul Malec
Paul Robert Malec, of Bellingham, passed away on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008. He will be greatly missed.
Arrangements are with Moles Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Lynden.
Mildred J. “Millie” Jones
On Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, Mildred J. “Millie” Jones went to be with the Lord. She was at home in Ferndale with her loving family by her bedside.
She was born in Millington, Tenn., on March 26, 1922, to Bernice and Ersie (Perkins) Jennings. She married Rex A. Jones on March 20, 1938. They started their married life farming in Bardwell, Ky., until World War II and the Navy brought the family to San Francisco. With her husband gone to sea, Millie worked for the Army Engineers as so many women did for the war effort. She lived in several states, making and keeping many friends over the years.
Pierson Dykstra
Pierson Dykstra, son of David and Pauline (Van Weerdhuizen) Dykstra, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Oct. 31, 2008, at the age of 82.
Pierson lived a full life and was deeply loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.
Marion Joyce Healy (Childs)
Marion Joyce Healy (Childs) passed away recently due to illness. She was 87 years old.
Marion was born in Bellingham in 1920 and attended Whatcom High School. She moved to Seattle, where she worked for the Boeing Company and raised her two children, Peggy Martini and Patrick Healy.
Walter Ruble
Walter (Jack) Ray Ruble of Lynden, passed away on Oct. 28, 2008, at the age of 87.
He was born on Six Prong Ranch in eastern Washington on Sept. 21, 1921, and was raised on the ranch and in Rochester, Wash., graduating from Rochester High School in 1938. He joined the Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Following the war, he apprenticed as a machinist at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, working there as an inside machinist in Building 31 until his retirement in 1964. Jack was an avid hunter, ammunition reloader and lifetime NRA member. He enjoyed rebuilding cars and other machinery using his machinist talents and logging and bulldozing the “back 40” in his spare time and in retirement. Jack was a member of the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.
Shirley Judson
Shirley A. Judson passed away on Oct. 22, 2008, in Lynden.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Richard W. Judson, originally of Lynden.
Shirley is survived by her children Kristin Remy (Bruce), Erika Ashbrook (Todd) and Korey Judson (partner Alex Namba); and grandchildren Nathan and Travis Remy and Samuel and Kenly Ashbrook.
A memorial/celebration service will be held at the Mount Baker Rotary Building on Nov.
Ethel Shamek
Ethel Marie Shamek, of Ferndale, passed away on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008. She was 88 years old.
The family will gather privately.
Arrangments are by Moles Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Lynden.
Claudia Jean Abbe
Claudia Jean Abbe, age 66, passed away on Oct. 24, 2008, a her home in Bellingham.
Claudia was born on July 7, 1942, in Seattle to Meyer P. and Anne Meldahl. She met Ross E. Abbe on the Princess Margarett Ferry entering Seattle to attend the 1962 World's Fair. Claudia and Ross were married at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Seattle on Aug. 31, 1963. Claudia worked as unit coordinator in the Mother-Baby Unit at St. Joseph Hospital for 20-plus years and retired in 2002. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her lovingly endeared grandchildren Andy and Anne. She liked working in her garden, nurturing a Peace Rose and many other plants from her mother’s garden. Claudia was concerned with making her home warm and inviting for her children and their friends.
Lyle “Bud” Hunter
Lyle “Bud” Hunter, of Ferndale, was born on May 31, 1921, and passed away on Oct. 22, 2008, at the age of 87.
Born and raised in Ferndale, he was a son of Bill and Beulah Hunter. Bud married his high school sweetheart, Loretta Reilly, on Feb. 14, 1942. He served as a pilot in the Naval Air Corps during World War II, after which he returned to the family farm and raised cows, crops and four kids. He was active in the American Legion, Old Settlers Association, Elks, Darigold board, Washington State Dairy Products Commission and more.
Goldie (Haveman) Leenders
Goldie (Haveman) Leenders, age 83, went home to her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008.
A lifelong Whatcom County resident, she was born on Aug. 2, 1925, in Lynden, to John T. and Elsie (Bovendam) Haveman. She graduated from Lynden High School in 1944 and began a career in retail sales, which included 18 years at J.C. Penney in Lynden, as well as Valu-Mart, Bellingham Blue Printing and Grigg’s Stationers. On Oct. 26, 1985, she married Ralph Leenders in Lynden. Goldie was a member of United Reformed Church and enjoyed traveling and working in her yard.
Harry E. Zettle
Harry E. Zettle, age 95, of Lynden, passed away on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, in Bellingham.
Harry was a lifetime resident of Whatcom County, born on April 15, 1913, in Bellingham to Joseph and Bertha (Jones) Zettle. He married Gertude Bylsma on June 22, 1937, in Lynden. Together they owned and operated a chicken farm. He loved dancing, fishing, hunting and riding four-wheelers.
Antonia Garcia
Former Whatcom County resident Antonia Garcia, age 77, died on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, in Weslaco, Texas.
She was born on Nov. 15, 1930, in Cup Cuilo, Mexico. On Dec. 22, 1952, Antonia was married to Andrew Garcia and in the mid-1950s they moved to California and were employed as farm workers. They moved with their young family to Whatcom County in the early 1960s, where they made their home. While raising her family, Antonia was also employed at the Georgia-Pacific plant and retired from there in the 1980s. Following retirement, she and Andrew traveled and lived in both Texas and Whatcom County. A faithful member of the Catholic Church, she also enjoyed knitting and loved to play BINGO.
Gene Julius Newman
Gene Julius Newman passed away on Dec. 5, 2008.
Gene’s was a life well-lived, a thoughtful, understated man with a keen mind whose actions reflected his values. Gene was born on March 7, 1923, in Seattle, a son of Annie (Hollenbeck) and Harry Newman. He graduated from Lynden High School in 1941.
Harvey Smith
Harvey Smith passed away on Dec. 7, 2008, at his home in Blaine. He was 42.
Harvey was born on Jan. 8, 1966, in Madison, W. Va. He and his twin brother Charlie brought their mother Amma to Ferndale to visit relatives in 1987. They liked the area so well they decided to settle down. Harvey worked as a supervisor for The Inn at Semiahmoo from 1987 until 1992. While there, he earned an “Employee of the Year” award. He then began a successful career as a machine operator and supervisor at Lynden Door Inc. from 1992 until his death. During those 16 years he built a solid reputation because of his honesty and hard work.
Grace Roorda
Grace Roorda, age 81, of Lynden, joined her husband, Albert, in heaven on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
She was born in Friesland, the Netherlands, on Nov. 14, 1927, and studied to be a seamstress. She married Albert Roorda in October 1948 and came to America as a new bride. She and Albert worked hard and raised their children on a dairy farm near Lynden. She was a member of First Christian Reformed Church in Lynden and also volunteered at St. Joseph Hospital for 25 years. Throughout her life, she demonstrated her deep faith, especially to her family. Grace had a great appreciation for all the beauty and blessings in her life. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her and those whose lives that she blessed with her grace and faith.
Wiebe Alderliesten
Wiebe Alderliesten, age 61, of Ferndale, passed away at his home on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, after a construction accident. Graveside services were held on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery, Ferndale, with Mr. Ernst DeVries officiating, followed by a memorial service at 1 p.m. at First Christian Reformed Church, 1010 Front St., Lynden, with Pastor Robert Woodyard officiating.
Betty Dazelle
Betty Jean Dazelle, of Bellingham, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008. She was 85. Betty was truly loved by all who knew her.
Arrangements are pending with Moles Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Lynden.
Clare McClaskey
Clare McClaskey, of Bellingham, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008. She was 85 years old.
Arrangements are pending with Moles Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Lynden.
Harry J. Rekers
Harry J. Rekers, age 81, of Ferndale, passed away in Bellingham on Monday, Dec. 1, 2008.
Harry was born on Feb. 12, 1927, in Almelo, the Netherlands, to Johannes Franciscus Rekers and Gerharda Johanna Johannink-Rekers.
He was drafted into the Netherlands Army in 1946, after completing elementary and higher education. Serving three years in the Dutch Army, he received officers training and spent three years in the Dutch East Indies as a reserve officer. Then he joined the Royal Netherlands Air Force. After receiving three years of pilot and technical officers training in the SUAF (Texas and Colorado), he returned and served out his contract time with the RNAF. He retired in late 1958 with the rank of captain.
Dennis Perry Arntzen
Dennis Perry Arntzen, age 64, of Ferndale, passed away on Nov. 28, 2008.
He was born on Dec. 26, 1943, in Bellingham to Harold and Wanda (Hatton) Arntzen. Dennis served in the United States Navy for four years. While living in Ohio, he was employed by the Black River School District working as a custodian and coaching in the Black River Youth Football League. In Washington, Dennis was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was a volunteer trail builder for the Washington Trails Association in Whatcom County and participated in the Old Settlers activities in Ferndale. He supported activities of the Whatcom County libraries and enjoyed genealogy and playing bingo.
