Betty Rosalie Doornenbal, 87, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 23, 2017. She was surrounded by her children when she went to be with the Lord.
Rosalie was born in Lynden to Huston and Tina (Cowin) Headrick. The Headricks had moved to Lynden in the late 1920s and settled on the Weidkamp Road. Her family started a strawberry farm near a close-knit group of family and Missourian friends in the Berthusen area. Rosalie learned the value of hard work and helping others, whether it was by loading strawberry crates in the truck or baking pies for a Missouri Picnic.
Growing up with three sisters and one brother firmly embedded a lady-like demeanor that typified any activity. While ice skating with friends on frozen ponds or roller-skating at Birch Bay, she was classy. Rosalie was known in “family lore” for having her comb tucked neatly in the top of her roller skate always handy for a quick touch-up of her long blonde curls.
Rosalie married Jerry Doornenbal in 1947. Their family started with Joel followed by Terri, Scott and Lisa. Her children became her focus and her joy for the rest of her life. Unselfish and supportive by nature, she was a ready participant for any activity. You could count on her to supplement the day with a cooler of sandwiches, fried chicken or snacks. That cooler made many a trip skiing, fishing, to the lake, to swimming pools and, of course, some Missouri picnics.
Rosalie was part of a Lynden sewing club for many years. The young wives formed lifelong bonds as they stitched through every phase of their child-rearing days. She was a member of First Reformed Church in Lynden and raised her children to know the Lord. As the family grew up and left the nest, more time was available for travel. Rosalie loved her many excursions with sisters or friends. Some of her fondest memories were with her sister Dolores traveling in Europe.
Rosalie was so proud of her grandchildren Tyler, Dayna, Jess, Cassie, Tyanne, Sydney, Carly, Luke, Jake, Mitchell and Mason. She so enjoyed the countless hours on the sidelines, bleachers and in the audience cheering her grandkids in a variety of activities and performances. Only secondary to the joy of watching her grandchildren were the hours she would spend watching the Seattle Mariners. She had great memories traveling with friends and sisters to watch spring training.
She lived for years on Depot Road as well as the Wiser Lake Road, in Bellingham and most recently at Meadow Greens. Like most folks, life threw many curve balls at Rosalie. She had an extraordinary ability to accept each challenge and embrace her new circumstances. She will be deeply missed by her sisters Shirley and Judy (Charlie); children Joel (Connie), Terri (John), Scott and Lisa (Kip); her grandchildren Tyler (Lori), Dayna, Jesse, Cassie (JD), Tyanne, Sydney, Carly, Luke, Jake, Mitchell (Stephanie) and Mason; and great-grandchildren Christopher, Huston, Hannah, Riley, Zoe, Makena, Haley and Kristie.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Gene and her sister Dolores.
Rosalie will be interred at Greenwood Cemetery on Wiser Lake Road. A celebration of her life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, in Gillies Funeral Home of Lynden.
You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
