Obituaries

Recent Obituaries

Local Obituaries for Bellingham, WA, Whatcom County & Surrounding Areas

Thekla "Tek" Beswatherick

Thekla "Tek" Beswatherick

Dec 30, 2024

Thekla “Tek” Beswatherick died peacefully on December 30, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan Beswatherick, and her daughter, Kimberly Booher. 

Thekla was born on September 15, 1944, in Everett, WA, to Jack and Elvina (Kueter) Clark. A lifelong Washington resident, she grew up in Seattle then spent the rest of her...

Sheridan "Sheri" Raye Culwell

Sheridan "Sheri" Raye Culwell

Dec 29, 2024

On December 29, 2024, Sheri Raye Culwell, age 83, went home to be with the Lord. She passed away peacefully in her dream home surrounded by love and beauty. Washington was her home. 

A native of Oklahoma, Sheri moved to Washington at the age of 47 and fell in love. She considered the Pacific Northwest “God’s Country,” and established roots and...

Joan Rothausen

Joan Rothausen

Dec 23, 2024

Born on August 29, 1929 in Mt. Vernon, WA, to parents Ernest and Bertha (Bradford) Brown, Joan passed away peacefully on December 23, 2024 at her Bellingham home.

Joan graduated from Burlington High School in 1947 and, on her 18th birthday, married the love of her life, David Rothausen. Together, they raised their two children in Ferndale.

A lover of nature, Joan...

Teddy Lee Parker

Teddy Lee Parker

Dec 20, 2024

The family of Ted L. Parker is sad to announce his passing on Friday, December 20, 2024, at the age of 78. Ted walked through life with a gentle strength and humor which touched the lives of everyone he encountered. He leaves behind a legacy of warmth and kindness. 

Ted was a lifelong resident of Bellingham, WA. He attended Bellingham High...

Perry A. Mendenhall

Perry A. Mendenhall

Dec 20, 2024

Born on September 5, 1942 in Atlanta, GA, to parents Al and Lucille (Davis) Mendenhall, Perry passed away on December 20, 2024 in Bellingham, WA.

A proud veteran, Perry served as Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked as a Project Manager with Anvil Engineering for over 30 years before retirement.

He had a big camping family and loved hunting and...

William "Bill" C. Lynch III

William "Bill" C. Lynch III

Dec 17, 2024

William “Bill” Charles Lynch III died December 17, 2024, at 4:20pm at his home after a long illness. He was affectionately known as “Cheezeburger” or simply, the “Cheeze.”

Bill was born September 20, 1946, in San Francisco, CA, to Edith Backus Burroughs and William Charles Lynch II. He grew up in Hollywood. He had a free-spirited, unrestrained youth, which led him...

John Scott McCallum

John Scott McCallum

Dec 14, 2024

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of John S. McCallum, known to many as “Scott.” He passed away at the age of 65 on December 14, 2024, surrounded by those he loved.

John was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia McCallum and his father, John E. McCallum. He is survived by his two children, Bradley McCallum and Lisa...

Jess Lallas

Jess Lallas

Dec 11, 2024

Jess Joseph Lallas, age 32, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on December 11, 2024. Jess was born on May 22, 1992 in Bellingham, Washington. He graduated from Sehome High School in 2010 and shortly after started his career at Western Refinery Services. Jess was known by his coworkers for his work ethic, humility, and selflessness. Jess...

Harriet Irene Hatch

Harriet Irene Hatch

Dec 9, 2024

Harriet Irene Hatch was born September 16, 1929, in Havre, Montana and passed peacefully on December 9, 2024, in Bellingham, Washington. Her beloved husband, Gene, was by her side.

Harriet was the daughter of Severt Theodore and Lillian Irene Dallum. She grew up in Havre and Chinook, Montana, and Seattle, Washington. She graduated from Garfield High School in Seattle. 

While at Garfield,...

Carlton "CT" Ihlan

Carlton "CT" Ihlan

Dec 8, 2024

Carlton Thomas Ihlan, known as CT by his friends or Carty by his loved ones, of Bellingham Washington, died on December 8, 2024 at the age of 86. 

CT was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1938 to Oswin Carlton Ihlan and Dolores Whitmore Ihlan. CT attended LP Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac before joining the Navy. During...

Janice E. Roehl

Janice E. Roehl

Dec 5, 2024

Born December 12, 1943, in Bellingham to parents Lewis and Helen (Miller) Turner, Jan passed away on December 5, 2024, in her Bellingham home.

Jan had happy memories of her childhood and of growing up in the Lakeway neighborhood. She cherished her years at Bellingham High School and went on to graduate from Western Washington University. She worked as a program...

Ethan Paul Leifheit

Ethan Paul Leifheit

Dec 4, 2024

We mourn the sudden passing Ethan Paul Leifheit, age 35, of Ferndale, WA, on December 4, 2024. Ethan was a loving and caring son, father, brother, uncle, and friend to many. His gentle and kind soul will forever be missed.

Ethan was born in Bellingham, WA, to Dana and Kim Leifheit on May 17, 1989. He graduated from Ferndale High School...

Paul A. Lovelace

Paul A. Lovelace

Dec 4, 2024

Born on May 8, 1941, in Bellingham, WA to parents Alfred and Beatrice (Shultz) Lovelace, Paul passed away on December 4, 2024 in Seattle, WA.

Paul graduated from Bellingham High School and worked at Bellingham Cold Storage for 35 years before retiring. He enjoyed fishing, camping, meeting with his buddies at Cedars in Ferndale, and spending time with his beloved grandchildren.

He...

Steven Charles Hathaway

Steven Charles Hathaway

Nov 30, 2024

Steve Hathaway, a devoted family man and respected figure in the Whatcom County community, passed away on November 30, 2024 at the age of 68.

Steve was born on September 1, 1956 in Waynesville, Missouri to Sally Hathaway. Steve and his mother moved to Bellingham in 1960 where he was a part of Sehome High School’s class of 1974. After high...

Richard Carney

Richard Carney

Nov 29, 2024

Richard Carney was born on June 23, 1944 and died on November 29, 2024. He was a loving husband to Frankie Carney, a kind father to Kyle, Kellee, Adam, and Amy, and a generous grandpa to Claudia, Aedan, Megan, Ace, Samantha, Katherine, and AJ.

Richard served as a firefighter for over 30 years, first as a hot shot, then a paramedic...

David R. Knapp Jr.

David R. Knapp Jr.

Nov 29, 2024

Born in Anchorage, AK, to parents David and Marilyn Knapp on January 18, 1972, Dave lost his battle with cancer and passed away peacefully surrounded by family in Bellingham, WA on November 29, 2024. 

Dave was not yet one year old when he moved to Sitka where he grew up and graduated from Sitka High School in 1990. Highlights of his...

Eddie Demezzi

Eddie Demezzi

2024

Eddie Demezzi, age 88, passed away November 19, 2024 in Bellingham, Washington.

Eddie was born in San Jose, California and moved to Washington in 1996.

One of his proudest achievements was being a volunteer Battalion Chief in Santa Clara, California and Fire Commissioner in Point Roberts, Washington. 

He is survived by his loving partner Shirley Hall, his daughters Carrie (Vince) Demezzi, Melissa (Clancy)...

Margaret Evelyn Thoreson

Margaret Evelyn Thoreson

Nov 11, 2024

Margaret Evelyn (Greenwood) Thoreson, a cherished sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 11, 2024, in Bellingham, WA. Born on July 4, 1953, in Pascagoula, MS, Margaret lived a life filled with love, adventure, and heartfelt friendships. A 1971 graduate of Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge, LA, she grew up surrounded by Southern warmth and values....

Daniel Otto Lindblom

Daniel Otto Lindblom

Nov 10, 2024

Daniel Otto Lindblom, age 79, passed away on November 10, 2024. Private services are being planned for summer next year.

Scott Bethke

Scott Bethke

Nov 5, 2024

Scott Bethke died on November 5, 2024, after a five-year battle with cancer. He was a trooper to the very end, continuing to work on projects out at Bellingham International Airport (BLI) until a few days before his death.

Born on May 14, 1954, Scott was a fourth-generation Whatcom County resident. He grew up on Smith Road in the house his...