Obituaries

Feb 2, 2025

Raymond "Dale" Munkres was born February 07, 1944 to parents Harvey "Wayne" Munkres and Jensine Haugsdal of Lynden, WA. He passed away on February 2, 2025 at the age of 80. Dale was the youngest of 3 brothers Arden Munkres (Oldest), Dean Munkres (Middle). He grew up on the family farm in Northern Whatcom County off Noon & Pole Roads. 

Dale...

Feb 2, 2025

Gloria Pearl (Nelson) Hanowell, age 91, of Blaine formerly of Ferndale passed away peacefully Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Blaine. Gloria was born February 9, 1933 in Flasher, North Dakota to parents Carl & Dagny (Jonson) Nelson. She graduated from Ferndale High School in 1951. Gloria married the love of her life Percy T. Hanowell, Jr. on October 20, 1951...

Jan 28, 2025

Our much-loved Joanne (Jo) Frances Praetzel died in Bellingham on the evening of January 28th, 2025. A lifelong adventurer who loved traveling, camping, beaches, sailing, reading, gardening, and spending time with her family, she is deeply missed. Jo is survived by her daughters, Kimber and Jennifer, Jennifer’s partner, Laura, her grandsons Tristan and Trevor, and her granddaughter, Winter. She was...

Jan 27, 2025

Fred J. Buckenmeyer was born in Everson, WA on June 15, 1932. He passed away on January 27, 2025 at the age of 92. Fred was the oldest of 6 children; Robert, James, (Donald) Ray, Peggy, Phyllis. He grew up on the family farm in Northern Whatcom County on the Canadian Border. His Grandfather homesteaded the property in the late...

Jan 26, 2025

Benjamin Ray Spoelstra, age 98, passed away peacefully on Sunday afternoon, January 26, 2025, in Bellingham Washington. Ben was born third child of eight to Rev. Peter and Ella Spoelstra in Grundy Center, Iowa on June 20, 1926. Ben was put to work in the celery fields of lower Michigan at the age of nine years old to help the...

Jan 25, 2025

Beverly Joyce Brownrigg August 6, 1938 – January 25, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Beverly Joyce Brownrigg, who passed away peacefully on the evening of January 25, 2025, at The Bellingham at Orchard Memory Care in Bellingham, Washington.

Beverly was born on August 6, 1938, in Bellingham to Lawrence and Ardis Johnson. A lifelong Bellingham...

Jan 20, 2025

Connie Jo Johnson, age 89, passed away in Lynden, Washington into the arms of her Heavenly Father on January 20, 2025. She was born September 19, 1935 in Ponder, Texas to parents Barney William and Nora Eunice (Thomason) Vaughn. She grew up in El Cajon, California and moved to Portland, Oregon to attend the Bible school at Warner Pacific College....

Jan 17, 2025

JoAnn "Jo" Honcoop, 79, passed away on January 17, 2025 in Lynden, WA. JoAnn was born to Johan and Bonnie Jean (Smothers) Van Lohuizen on December 28, 1945 in San Francisco, CA. Her parents divorced when JoAnn and her older brother, Jan, were toddlers.

 JoAnn lived in a foster home in San Rafael, CA. She was adopted by Steven and Margaret...

Jan 16, 2025

Mary Elizabeth (Hess) Andrus, age 87, a long-time resident of Custer, passed away Thursday, the 16, January 2025. She was born on the 22nd of February 1937 in Peabody, Kansas, to Edward LeRoy ‘Roy’ Hess and Freda Mae (Dohner) Hess. She was preceded in death by her parents, her oldest son, Glenn Andrus Jr., and the love of her life,...

Jan 12, 2025

Marilyn G. Schuyleman was welcomed at Heaven’s door by her Lord and Savior on January 12, 2025. She was born on April 15, 1931 to John W. and Tillie (Haveman) Schuyleman in Lynden, WA and was the 5th child of 6.

Marilyn attended Lynden Christian Schools and was proud to be a part of Lynden Christian High School’s first graduating class...

Jan 8, 2025

John Herman Hoksbergen, age 81, was taken home to glory in accordance with God’s perfect plan, on January 8, 2025. He passed away at Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham, ending his struggle with Parkinson’s disease. John was born on March 9, 1943 in Lynden, Washington to Lewis and Bertha Hoksbergen and was part of a lively family of nine children....

Jan 8, 2025

After an almost two year battle with MDS and AML, Nancy Jean Kreps passed away on January 8, 2025. She was born in West Los Angeles, California on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1940, to parents Roscoe and Jean Stroud. She is survived by her Husband David of almost 48 years, two children; Robin (Doug) Smith, and Eric (Kelly) Slagle,...

Jan 6, 2025

Bellingham, Washington – Donald Peter Lind age 93, passed away January 6, 2025, after a short illness. Donald was born July 29, 1931, in Bellingham, Washington to Peter and Doris Inez Lind. He grew up in Bellingham and attended Bellingham High School. He married his high school sweetheart Margaret Haveman Lind on December 28, 1951. Together they raised four children...

Jan 2, 2025

Sharron Marie Hilton was born in Ronan, MT on Nov. 26, 1943 to parents Thomas Austin Helen Louise (Mitchell) Smith. She was the oldest of 3. 

Sharron went to school in Ronan, Montana (her most memorable) and other places as their family travels and parents' work warranted. One of her memories of childhood was her stepfather John (a house painter) and...

Dec 30, 2024

Betty Marie (Dews) Chamberlin went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 30, 2024. This was just 3 days after she was blessed with 102 ½ years of life here on this earth. She was born in Burlington, WA on June 27, 1922 to Leonard N. Dews & Mabel F. (Rogers) Dews. Shortly after her...

Dec 28, 2024

Bruce Alan McLeod, age 77, was a life-long resident of Bellingham. He was born in Bellingham to parents Daniel Armond and Jean McLeod on May 28, 1947. He passed away at Whatcom Hospice House on Saturday, December 28, 2024, in Bellingham. Bruce attended Campus School, Fairhaven Junior High, Bellingham High School (class of 1965), Skagit Valley Community College and Western...

Dec 20, 2024

Dec 18, 2024

Brian John Blackwood was born in Newton, IA, to Everett and Caroline Blackwood. He grew up in Newton and was very involved in athletics, including football, wrestling, baseball, and for fun he would hike, bicycle, or play tennis. He was captain of the football team. He graduated from Newton High School in 1985 and attended the University of Iowa for...

Dec 14, 2024

The family of Yoneo “Yo” Fujikawa sadly shares the news of his passing at the age of 44, on December 14th, 2024. Yo was surrounded by his loving family at the Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham, Washington after a courageous battle with cancer. Born on November 9, 1980, in Mount Vernon, Washington, Yoneo was the cherished son of Elmarae Garcia...

Dec 11, 2024

Brian Edward Baker passed away peacefully at home in Everson on December 11, 2024. He was born on December 29, 1965 in Renton, WA to Vonnie (Crabtree) and Lynn Baker. At six years of age, the family moved to Bellingham, WA where Lynn worked as a mechanical engineer at Georgia-Pacific.

Upon graduating from high school Brian joined the Navy where was...