Ethel Marie Bonsen Mc Kay

Ethel Marie Bonsen Mc Kay, age 96, of Ferndale was born November 1, 1920 to parents Peter and Margaret (Blume) Bonsen in Castor, Alberta, Canada.  The family moved to Lynden, WA in 1927 to begin dairy farming. Ethel graduated from Lynden High School with the Class of 1939 and attended Success Business College in Bellingham.  She was employed at Lynden Darigold and was a Charter Member of the Lynden Rainbow Assembly, where she was Worthy Advisor and one of two of the first Grand Cross recipients awarded at the Lynden Assembly.  Ethel (Bonsen) and Kenneth McKay were married August 9, 1944 at Lynden Methodist Church (the old church was behind the Lynden Department Store).  She and Ken owned and operated McKay’s Variety Store in Ferndale for 27 years and were well-known in the community.  Ethel was preceded in death by her husband Ken, her parents and her sister, Esther (Bee) Prince. She is survived by her children Leah and Bill Prince, Jeff and Merle McKay, Stu and Connie McKay; grandchildren, Kyle Prince, Justin McKay, Gail and Cdr. Aaron Tabor and Ayla McKay; three great grandchildren: Isabel, Michael and Madison Tabor; her brother, Roy Bonsen of Lynden and numerous nieces and nephews.  A Celebration of Ethel’s life will be held Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, at the Ferndale Events Center, 5715 Barrett Road from 1:00 – 4:00 PM. Donations may be made in her name to Ferndale Heritage Society, Whatcom Old Settlers or the PBY Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 941, Oak Harbor WA 98277.