Have you lived in other places besides Lynden?
Yes, I was born in Hensel, North Dakota. No one has ever heard of it. I’ve also lived in Chicago, Kauai, California and most recently in Bellingham.
I was in the United States Air Force for about six years. I did ground power, so I worked on the equipment needed to keep the planes and jets operating. During that time, we lived near bases in different towns so I could do that work.
What industry did you retire from?
I was an electrician and owned Viking Electric on the Laurel Road. I liked being an electrician because I liked electricity and a lot of people need it.
I did my apprenticeship through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Through the union, I was able to work on a condo project that was located on Kauai. I got to bring my family with me, and we lived there for two years. That was really fun.
If you could have any type of food today, what would it be?
I’d say it would be something delicious. Maybe prime rib or ribs with sauce on them.
What is one thing that you have been most proud of in your life?
I am most proud of my family. My wife, Dorothy Joan, and I both graduated from Mount Baker High School. She was 16 and I was 17 when we started dating. We’re still high school sweethearts, and we still love each other.
We had three kids — Julie, Steven and Allen — but Allen passed away when he was 16 in a car accident. That was really hard, but all my tears are dry now.
What was your favorite age to be, and why?
Well, I’d say that the age I am now is my favorite because it may as well be. [Said with a laugh.]
What is one life lesson that you learned from your parents?
They taught me to be friendly and to be a nice guy and to always go to church, as well. We were Lutherans.
What is one piece of advice that you would give a 16-year-old person?
Don’t drive fast. Be friendly and happy. Make sure you don’t get your hands stuck in the spokes of the bicycle. [Said with a laugh.]
What is one thing most people don’t know about you, but you wish they did?
Well, there are a couple of things. People don’t know that my middle name is Laverne and that I played basketball and football in high school. I also ran in track — high and low hurdles and the 800 meters. I was the student body president in high school, too.
You’ve lived through other historical events — wars and recessions and such. What do you think of the pandemic that we’re living through now?
It’s kind of scary; there are some nasty bugs out there.
What do you like about living at CHCC?
The staff are good people and very nice; I like to make jokes with people here. I like talking to my friend Bill on the iPad every week. He’s a volunteer and a really nice guy. Lynden is a nice town with nice people in it.