Lyle Dean Bennink, age 79, of Lynden, died Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017 peacefully in his home of a combination of cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Lyle was born Dec. 17, 1937, in South Dakota to Gerard and Sarah (Noteboom) Bennink. When he was 5, his family moved to Lynden where he grew up with his brother and three sisters. He graduated from Lynden High School in 1956. He was a founding member of Faith Reformed Church.
Lyle got a teaching degree at Western Washington University in 1960 and later his master’s at the University of Washington in 1968. He married Marilyn Noteboom, also of Lynden, on Dec. 28, 1962. The two moved to Kent, Washington, where Lyle taught for 28 years in the Federal Way School District. They raised three daughters in the area.
Lyle was very involved at Trinity Reformed Church, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School and serving as an elder. He loved to garden and spent many hours in his yard. Lyle also enjoyed camping, and many summers were spent exploring the state and different parts of the country with his family and a tent trailer in tow. He especially enjoyed spending summers with his grandkids and taking them to the beach camping.
After retirement, Lyle and Marilyn sold their home and traveled for 17 years in a fifth-wheeler doing volunteer service and exploring the country. They met many new friends and had amazing experiences together.
Five years ago, Lyle and his wife settled back into Lynden and enjoyed reconnecting with community, church, family and their First Reformed Church small group.
Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Gerard and Sarah Bennink; his in-laws, Cornie and Alma Noteboom; son-in-law James Gibbs; and infant daughter Karla.
Lyle is survived by his wife, Marilyn Bennink; three daughters, Kim (Jeff) Strating of Abbotsford, B.C., Kyla (John) Haas of Sedro-Woolley and Kari (Randy) Fehr of Enumclaw; 10 grandchildren, Jesse (Jacqueline) Strating, Heather Strating, Tyler (Jenny) Strating, Melissa (Josh) Olthuis, Nathan Gibbs, Zachary (Nicole) Gibbs, Elizabeth Gibbs, Aaron Gibbs, Emma and Ryan Fehr; and four siblings, Ron (Barbara) Bennink, Joyce (Lloyd) Richardson, Janice (Don) Geleynse and Muriel (Paul) Milam.
Special thanks to Hospice and Take My Hand At Home for their loving care of Lyle in his last days.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, in First Reformed Church of Lynden.
Arrangements are by Gillies Funeral Home. To leave thoughts for the family, please sign the guest book at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
