Mikkel Hilde

Mikkel "Mike" Hilde of Bellingham, Washington, died Feb. 15. He was 98.

He was born to Halvor and Barbo (Varmaker) Hilde on Dec. 10, 1918 in Wolf Point, Montana. His family immigrated from Norway and he was the only one in his family born in the United States. He was a WWII Navy Veteran. His ship was attacked by a Japanese suicide boat on April 27, 1945.

He married Edith Potter in 1940, and they had three children. He later married Rose Martin in 1962 and they were married 52 years. He worked for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the Tracy school district and then worked until he was 90 at the DMV, all in California.

In 2011, Hilde and his wife moved to Bellingham, Washington to be closer to family. He was well liked by everyone and you never heard him say a negative thing about anyone.

Preceding him in death are his wives, Edith and Rose; grandson, Niall Ward; brothers, Vebjom "William," Ole, Anders, Gulbrand "Gilbert; and sister, Anna. He is survived by his children, Robin "Bob" (Barbara) Hilde, Mikelyn (Greg) Ward, and Sam (Celeste) Hilde; grandchildren, Jean, Raymond, Megan, Kerry, Paul and Jennifer and 11 great-grandchildren. A memorial was recently held near his home in Washington at the United Church of Ferndale.