Lawrence John Honcoop

Lawrence John ‘Larry’ Honcoop, age 77, of Bellingham, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham.

Larry was born in Bellingham, Washington on January 7, 1949, to Nick and Nellie Honcoop. He was the youngest of five children and spent his childhood on the family farm in Sumas. As a young boy, Larry worked on both the family and neighboring dairy farms. He attended Sumas Christian School and graduated from Lynden Christian High School in 1967. He later attended Skagit Valley College and Western Washington University in pursuit of a teaching degree. After a year working for the forestry service, Larry started at Griffith Furniture, where he spent 45 years until retiring in 2013. He enjoyed interacting with customers and helping them find the perfect items for their homes.

On June 14,1975, Larry married the love of his life, Susan ‘Sue’ Atwood. The early years of their marriage were filled with family, camping, road trips, friends and frequent laughter. When Sue was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Larry stood by her side and evolved into a devoted full-time care giver as the symptoms became more advanced, providing a meticulous level of care for his bride to ensure her continued health and happiness for more than 50 years. When their son, Nicholas, was born, Larry added best dad and hero to his resume – pouring his love, time and energy into his son. There was no doubt that husband, dad, and recently, grandpa, were his favorite roles.

Larry had a heart for people, both meeting them and helping them whenever he could. He was always willing to lend a hand, even to his newest acquaintances – whether it was helping them move or putting a new roof on their house. Everyone who met him knows he always remembered the last conversation he had with you and never forgot to ask about what was happening in your life.

Larry was heavily involved in his church, Northlake Community Church (formerly Geneva) where he served as a board member, greeter, and usher, as well as organizing and leading a Sunday evening service for several years. He had a heart for missions and dedicated his time, resources and prayers in support of missionaries and mission organizations around the world. He also had a passion for mentoring kids, teaching Sunday school for many years and volunteering his time coaching dozens of baseball and basketball teams. When he wasn’t working or attending a church function, Larry could often be found on the softball fields or basketball courts of Whatcom County — continuing to play into his 60s.

Larry was passionate about his faith, sharing the gospel with everyone he met and introducing them to Jesus. He found joy in every circumstance and trusted God’s plan for his life. He would want you to know that Jesus Christ died for you, you are loved and, by God’s grace and mercy, you can have eternal life and spend eternity with Him.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents Nick and Nellie (Hamstra) Honcoop; brothers, Bill Honcoop and Marv Honcoop. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sue Honcoop; son, Nick (Madison) Honcoop; granddaughter, Arianne Honcoop; brother, Donald Honcoop; sister, Margery Holsather. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, May 16 at 1:00 pm at Northlake Community Church located at 1471 E McLeod Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Larry’s name to Samaritan’s Purse.