Fred R. Haskins

Fred R. Haskins passed away peacefully at the age of 93. He was born in Bellingham on July 11, 1930 and died in Bellingham on March 20, 2024. Fred was the first of five children where he grew up in a large family in a small home in the Sunnyland Neighborhood. In 1948 he graduated from Bellingham High School and then immediately joined the US Navy serving at Sea during the Korean War. After returning from service, Fred enrolled at the University of Washington where he graduated with a Degree in Pharmacology. While pursuing his five-year university program, he met and married classmate Eloise. Upon graduation, Fred began working as a Registered Pharmacist in Seattle and then relocating back to his hometown of Bellingham when the downtown Pay-n-Save store was to open.  

Within six years, he was the active father of four boys where he was involved in such roles as Cub Scoutmaster and later the Elks. Fred had a love for people and people certainly loved Fred. He enjoyed serving his customers at many retail stores such as Pay-n-Save, Discount City and Rite Aid Pharmacy. He was known to personally deliver prescriptions to many of his elderly customers on his own time during the evening hours, once he had clocked out from his long hours working behind the counter.

Throughout his adult life, Fred always maintained a fervent desire to entertain and assist others, especially through his affiliations with the Elks Lodge. He served in many capacities including that of the highest office, the Exalted Ruler. Fred was always one to assist & entertain the disadvantaged, donating his days off to participate with the Elks Clowns & Tall Elks where he consistently traveled to hospitals in other cities to see and entertain developmentally and physically challenged kids.

Fred met his wife Yoshiko through charitable events at the Elks Lodge where he frequently volunteered in a variety of ways such as the bingo caller. Taking part with such groups as Tall Elks and Elks Clowns, they both became involved in entertaining disadvantaged youth and others in need. They eventually fell in love and spent the past 50 years together. As a loving couple, over the decades, they were known to entertain hundreds with their large outdoor parties at their Aldrich Road property. While hosting Japanese exchange students and participating in Bellingham and Ferndale sister city organizations, Fred, along with Yoshiko, traveled extensively throughout the US over the years by RV, bus, train, and airplane. They also traveled extensively internationally as well. 

Fred was known for his love of people and wherever he went, people seemed to cherish him and his unique personality. Fred will be missed by his family, friends, and all those lives he touched. May he rest in peace.

Fred was preceded in death by his youngest son Dwight Haskins and is survived by his wife Yoshiko; brother's Lyle and Robert Haskins; son's Doug, Darryl and Dean Haskins; granddaughters Allyson, Alayna and Kaylee Haskins as well as grandsons Tyler, Cory and David Haskins, Michael Hequibal; step-son Ed Feenstra and numerous other relatives. Fred will be laid to rest at Greenacres Memorial Park. 

A celebration of Fred’s life with Military Honors will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday, May 25, 2024 at the Bellingham Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way, Bellingham, WA 98229. Sig’s Funeral and Cremation Services has been assisting the family with arrangements. www.sigsfuneralservices.com

Memorial donations in Fred's name may be made to; Tall Elks Therapy Program c/o Elks Bellingham Lodge 194.