Niche wall installed at Blaine Cemetery

Harry George Rodenberger

February 21,1941 – January 23, 2023

Farmer – Firefighter – Friend. As a regular reader of obituaries to see if he was there, we know that Harry Rodenberger would be reading this with a joke at the tip of his tongue or one of his more infamous colorful phrases. Though eager for more farm projects, the Lord called Harry home for other projects on January 23, 2023.

Harry was born on Orcas Island in 1941 to George and Grace Rodenberger. As one of six siblings, Harry quickly learned to make himself known, hence the rather brilliant colored red hair. The gold capped teeth thankfully followed at a much later date, though his smile was winning from the start as many could attest to. When not whistling with skill most would aspire to, Harry loved to sing, earning him stage roles as he attended Bellingham High School. Though Harry had several careers, there were two that he seemed to have the secret manual to that left the rest of us in awe. As a farmer, Harry worked for the Green Brothers in Lynden and later ran both his own cow farm and horse ranch. There were few places that made Harry as happy as sitting up in the seat of his tractor or driving the cart with his horse Midnight. When not farming, Harry was a long-time firefighter in Bellingham. He was proud of his rather legendary direct communication style while in command, but he was prouder of all those he worked with in his time there. Harry retired as Battalion Chief after 27 years with the Bellingham Fire Department in 1997.

When not working, Harry was lover of music, sermons, traveling, and audio books. He was an extrovert’s extrovert, so whether friend, family, or stranger, Harry was ready to talk and his stories were often notorious. We will all miss his willing ear and advice.

Blaine Public Works Department utility foreman Steven Hrutfiord placed the first urn into Blaine Cemetery’s new niche wall February 2. The urn held the remains of K. Thomas, Hrutfiord’s cousin and the fourth-generation of the family buried in the cemetery.

Blaine City Council approved purchasing the niche wall in 2019, and public works staff finished installing the site area and planting surrounding geraniums last year. The cemetery has space for three more niche walls, making for about 230 spots total, public works foreman Pat Freeman said.

The city used to see 80 percent of people purchasing full burials and 20 percent opting for cremation burials, but Freeman said those numbers have shifted in recent years.

The niche wall gives people another option to honor a loved one while also keeping space in the cemetery, Freeman said. About 1,720 of the cemetery’s 2,754 plots are vacant, deputy city clerk Naomi Soulard said.

In 1934, the city took ownership of the cemetery, a nearly eight-acre property at 4175 H Street Road that was formed in 1888. The public works department maintains the cemetery grounds, and the city’s parks and cemetery board oversees cemetery operations.

It costs $2,000 to purchase a niche wall unit and $100 for the nice wall burial. A cremation burial costs $500.

Four parking spots will be added just south of the niche wall this summer, Freeman said. City council recently approved purchasing cemetery software that will digitize records, allow people to find loved ones and purchase vacant plots on the city’s website, Soulard said.

Harry is survived by his wife Terry; his seven children Tracy, Mardi, David, Dan, Tim, Don, Casie, and their spouses; five siblings Harold, Retha, Keith, Sue, Darla, and their spouses; his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews and other beloved family members.

A casual celebration (the man did love shorts after all) of his life will be held at 3RFarm on March 11, 2023, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Carl Benedict Broyan Jr.

August 08, 1946 – January 30, 2023

Carl Benedict Broyan Jr., age 76, passed away peacefully at his home on January 30, 2023. Carl was born on August 08, 1946 to Carl Benedict Broyan Sr. and Mary Skreenock in Hazleton, PA.

He graduated from Blaine High School in 1965, after high school, he served in the Navy for 2 years. In 1969, he started working at Intalco. In 1973, he married Bonny Gentzkow and had two kids together. Carl retired from Intalco in 2011.

Carl is survived by his wife Bonny Broyan; their daughter Desiree McGaughy (Jesse) and son Austin Broyan (Selina); grandchildren Brittain, Brielle, Thatcher, Tyson, and Logan; his brother Tim Broyan (Lynne); his sisters MaryAnn Lombardi (Paul), and Kathy Rautenbach (Steve).

The family would like to thank Whatcom Hospice and Right at Home for the care and support of Carl.