Surrounded by his loving family, Dale Finley, our beloved husband, dad, and grandpa, passed away at home on Saturday, February 25, 2006. He was 82 years old. Born May 21, 1923, in Mayfield, Wisconsin, to Franklin Ver and Clara Myrtle (Jobbins) Finley, he was the eighth of 10 children.
In his teens, Dale moved to the Tacoma area, where he met and married the love of his life, Esther Kvamme. He was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad as a telegrapher and freight agent and continued working for the Milwaukee for 47 years. Railroad work brought the couple to many Western Washington towns, including Fredrickson, Raymond, and Everett. Along the way, they met many lifelong friends.
In 1955, Dale and Esther moved to Bellingham where they raised their three children. Dale enjoyed family activities, including water skiing, boating and fishing in the San Juans, and playing volleyball and horseshoes at family gatherings. He continued these activities into his later years. He especially loved to travel with his children and grandchildren to Orcas Island, Kala Point, Cannon Beach, and to "Rob's Cabin" on the Key Peninsula. Relatives and friends visiting Bellingham were often treated to a train ride in a Milwaukee locomotive or caboose, a trip to Clayton Beach for crabbing, or a drive to the Ho Inn for Chinese food in Canada. Family members will always cherish the fun times together with Dad at these and so many other events.
Dale and Esther spent 63 rewarding and devoted years together. For many years they worked together at the Milwaukee. Later, in retirement, they enjoyed traveling with their children and with friends, eventually to all 50 states. Tuesday breakfast at TJ's with many of their friends became a recent favorite activity.
A lifelong learner, Dale valued education. He was largely self-taught, and moonlighted as a plumber, electrician, carpenter, and auto mechanic. He supported and encouraged his three children throughout their education.
Dale Finley is survived by his wife, Esther (Kvamme) Finley of Bellingham, daughter Christine (Rob) Reynolds of Tacoma, son Kim (Thuy) Finley of Sumner, and daughter Erin (Tim) Scott of Auburn; grandsons Michael, Morgan, and Nathan Finley of Sumner; grandsons Tyler and Ryan Scott, and granddaughter Amy Scott of Auburn; sisters Arlene Finley and Joyce Schaap of Worthington, MN, and Lurline (Charles) Duskin of Holland, MI; brothers Joe (Ruby) Finley of Puyallup, and Daryl (Marylouise) Finley of Shelton.
Dale was a believer in Christ and a faithful member of Geneva Community Church for over 40 years, moving with the congregation in recent years to Northlake Community Church.
Dale Finley remained "young at heart" all his years. He was a committed family man and an inspiration to us all.
A memorial service will be held at Northlake Community Church on Saturday, March 4th, at 12:00 noon with a reception to follow.
The family would like to thank Whatcom Hospice for their dedicated and compassionate care in recent weeks. Memorials may be made to Northlake Community Church or Whatcom Hospice.
In his teens, Dale moved to the Tacoma area, where he met and married the love of his life, Esther Kvamme. He was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad as a telegrapher and freight agent and continued working for the Milwaukee for 47 years. Railroad work brought the couple to many Western Washington towns, including Fredrickson, Raymond, and Everett. Along the way, they met many lifelong friends.
In 1955, Dale and Esther moved to Bellingham where they raised their three children. Dale enjoyed family activities, including water skiing, boating and fishing in the San Juans, and playing volleyball and horseshoes at family gatherings. He continued these activities into his later years. He especially loved to travel with his children and grandchildren to Orcas Island, Kala Point, Cannon Beach, and to "Rob's Cabin" on the Key Peninsula. Relatives and friends visiting Bellingham were often treated to a train ride in a Milwaukee locomotive or caboose, a trip to Clayton Beach for crabbing, or a drive to the Ho Inn for Chinese food in Canada. Family members will always cherish the fun times together with Dad at these and so many other events.
Dale and Esther spent 63 rewarding and devoted years together. For many years they worked together at the Milwaukee. Later, in retirement, they enjoyed traveling with their children and with friends, eventually to all 50 states. Tuesday breakfast at TJ's with many of their friends became a recent favorite activity.
A lifelong learner, Dale valued education. He was largely self-taught, and moonlighted as a plumber, electrician, carpenter, and auto mechanic. He supported and encouraged his three children throughout their education.
Dale Finley is survived by his wife, Esther (Kvamme) Finley of Bellingham, daughter Christine (Rob) Reynolds of Tacoma, son Kim (Thuy) Finley of Sumner, and daughter Erin (Tim) Scott of Auburn; grandsons Michael, Morgan, and Nathan Finley of Sumner; grandsons Tyler and Ryan Scott, and granddaughter Amy Scott of Auburn; sisters Arlene Finley and Joyce Schaap of Worthington, MN, and Lurline (Charles) Duskin of Holland, MI; brothers Joe (Ruby) Finley of Puyallup, and Daryl (Marylouise) Finley of Shelton.
Dale was a believer in Christ and a faithful member of Geneva Community Church for over 40 years, moving with the congregation in recent years to Northlake Community Church.
Dale Finley remained "young at heart" all his years. He was a committed family man and an inspiration to us all.
A memorial service will be held at Northlake Community Church on Saturday, March 4th, at 12:00 noon with a reception to follow.
The family would like to thank Whatcom Hospice for their dedicated and compassionate care in recent weeks. Memorials may be made to Northlake Community Church or Whatcom Hospice.
Surrounded by his loving family, Dale Finley, our beloved husband, dad, and grandpa, passed away at home on Saturday, February 25, 2006. He was 82 years old. Born May 21, 1923, in Mayfield, Wisconsin, to Franklin Ver and Clara Myrtle (Jobbins) Finley, he was the eighth of 10 children.
In his teens, Dale moved to the Tacoma area, where he met and married the love of his life, Esther Kvamme. He was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad as a telegrapher and freight agent and continued working for the Milwaukee for 47 years. Railroad work brought the couple to many Western Washington towns, including Fredrickson, Raymond, and Everett. Along the way, they met many lifelong friends.
In 1955, Dale and Esther moved to Bellingham where they raised their three children. Dale enjoyed family activities, including water skiing, boating and fishing in the San Juans, and playing volleyball and horseshoes at family gatherings. He continued these activities into his later years. He especially loved to travel with his children and grandchildren to Orcas Island, Kala Point, Cannon Beach, and to "Rob's Cabin" on the Key Peninsula. Relatives and friends visiting Bellingham were often treated to a train ride in a Milwaukee locomotive or caboose, a trip to Clayton Beach for crabbing, or a drive to the Ho Inn for Chinese food in Canada. Family members will always cherish the fun times together with Dad at these and so many other events.
Dale and Esther spent 63 rewarding and devoted years together. For many years they worked together at the Milwaukee. Later, in retirement, they enjoyed traveling with their children and with friends, eventually to all 50 states. Tuesday breakfast at TJ's with many of their friends became a recent favorite activity.
A lifelong learner, Dale valued education. He was largely self-taught, and moonlighted as a plumber, electrician, carpenter, and auto mechanic. He supported and encouraged his three children throughout their education.
Dale Finley is survived by his wife, Esther (Kvamme) Finley of Bellingham, daughter Christine (Rob) Reynolds of Tacoma, son Kim (Thuy) Finley of Sumner, and daughter Erin (Tim) Scott of Auburn; grandsons Michael, Morgan, and Nathan Finley of Sumner; grandsons Tyler and Ryan Scott, and granddaughter Amy Scott of Auburn; sisters Arlene Finley and Joyce Schaap of Worthington, MN, and Lurline (Charles) Duskin of Holland, MI; brothers Joe (Ruby) Finley of Puyallup, and Daryl (Marylouise) Finley of Shelton.
Dale was a believer in Christ and a faithful member of Geneva Community Church for over 40 years, moving with the congregation in recent years to Northlake Community Church.
Dale Finley remained "young at heart" all his years. He was a committed family man and an inspiration to us all.
A memorial service will be held at Northlake Community Church on Saturday, March 4th, at 12:00 noon with a reception to follow.
The family would like to thank Whatcom Hospice for their dedicated and compassionate care in recent weeks. Memorials may be made to Northlake Community Church or Whatcom Hospice.
In his teens, Dale moved to the Tacoma area, where he met and married the love of his life, Esther Kvamme. He was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad as a telegrapher and freight agent and continued working for the Milwaukee for 47 years. Railroad work brought the couple to many Western Washington towns, including Fredrickson, Raymond, and Everett. Along the way, they met many lifelong friends.
In 1955, Dale and Esther moved to Bellingham where they raised their three children. Dale enjoyed family activities, including water skiing, boating and fishing in the San Juans, and playing volleyball and horseshoes at family gatherings. He continued these activities into his later years. He especially loved to travel with his children and grandchildren to Orcas Island, Kala Point, Cannon Beach, and to "Rob's Cabin" on the Key Peninsula. Relatives and friends visiting Bellingham were often treated to a train ride in a Milwaukee locomotive or caboose, a trip to Clayton Beach for crabbing, or a drive to the Ho Inn for Chinese food in Canada. Family members will always cherish the fun times together with Dad at these and so many other events.
Dale and Esther spent 63 rewarding and devoted years together. For many years they worked together at the Milwaukee. Later, in retirement, they enjoyed traveling with their children and with friends, eventually to all 50 states. Tuesday breakfast at TJ's with many of their friends became a recent favorite activity.
A lifelong learner, Dale valued education. He was largely self-taught, and moonlighted as a plumber, electrician, carpenter, and auto mechanic. He supported and encouraged his three children throughout their education.
Dale Finley is survived by his wife, Esther (Kvamme) Finley of Bellingham, daughter Christine (Rob) Reynolds of Tacoma, son Kim (Thuy) Finley of Sumner, and daughter Erin (Tim) Scott of Auburn; grandsons Michael, Morgan, and Nathan Finley of Sumner; grandsons Tyler and Ryan Scott, and granddaughter Amy Scott of Auburn; sisters Arlene Finley and Joyce Schaap of Worthington, MN, and Lurline (Charles) Duskin of Holland, MI; brothers Joe (Ruby) Finley of Puyallup, and Daryl (Marylouise) Finley of Shelton.
Dale was a believer in Christ and a faithful member of Geneva Community Church for over 40 years, moving with the congregation in recent years to Northlake Community Church.
Dale Finley remained "young at heart" all his years. He was a committed family man and an inspiration to us all.
A memorial service will be held at Northlake Community Church on Saturday, March 4th, at 12:00 noon with a reception to follow.
The family would like to thank Whatcom Hospice for their dedicated and compassionate care in recent weeks. Memorials may be made to Northlake Community Church or Whatcom Hospice.
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