Beatrice "Bea" Harriett Gilfilen-Jewell

Beatrice Harriet Andersen, who was born on November 28th, 1927, in a farmhouse near Lynden, Washington, to Haagen and Esther Anderson, passed away peacefully on August 14th, 2026. In 1931, their farm was foreclosed on, and the family moved to Lake Samish, Washington, where her parents managed their uncle Ole's resort for three years. Eventually, the family moved to Bellingham, where she attended Washington School. In 1946, she graduated from Bellingham High and in 1972 from Western with a BA in general ED and a home economics degree. In 1955, she married Ralph Gilfilen. They raised two boys, Larry and Gary. Ralph died in 2018 after 63 years of marriage. The class of 1946 had several reunions, except during COVID when they stopped, but resumed in the spring of 2021. At the luncheon reunion in May, she saw her first-grade friend, Bob, from Washington School already sitting at the table. She told her daughter-in-law she was going to give him a hug (they always hugged at reunions). As they were catching up, it was learned that Bob's wife of 63 years had died. A few days later, he showed up at her home and asked for her phone number because it wasn't listed. After several phone calls and dinners, he proposed, and she accepted. Bea and Bob married on October 3, 2021, 86 years after meeting in first grade and sharing the same classes through sixth grade. They spent their honeymoon near Palm Springs (Cathedral City); after four months, they returned to Bellingham. Beatrice Gilfilen-Jewell is survived by her loving husband, Bob Jewell, and sons Larry Gilfilen and Gary Gilfilen; his wife, Katie; and grandchildren Derek Gilfilen and Brian Gilfilen, and their mother, Joy; also, several loving nieces, nephews, cousins here and in Norway; and many wonderful friends. She was pre-deceased by her parents and grandparents, Olaf and Edel Nubgaard, brother Clarence Andersen, and sister Doris Matz. Beatrice was a member of First Christian Church. Western Alumni Association and reunion class of 1946 In lieu of flowers. Remembrance would be appreciated to Bellingham Food Bank or First Christian Church. Burial services will be held at Bayview Cemetery on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 1:00 pm. The celebration of life service for Beatrice Gilfilen will be held at the First Christian Church located at 495E. Baker View Road on August 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM.

Beatrice "Bea" Harriett Gilfilen-Jewell

November 28, 1927 - August 14, 2026