Karna Nadine Postma

Karna Nadine Postma of Bellingham passed away peacefully on June 2, 2026. She was born March 9, 1931, in Port Townsend, Washington to Harvey and Frances Leavitt. She was 95 years young. Mom grew up in logging camps until the age of 7 when they moved to the Dewey Valley, now known as the Hannegan Road just off Sunset Drive. After high school Mom worked at the original Sears store downtown as a bookkeeper, where she worked until the mid 60’s. She made lifelong friends there and continued to gather for the “Sears luncheon” for many years. After Sears, she and Dad raised us four kids and mom was the bookkeeper for the family business. Dad was a commercial fisherman and was gone most summers where she had to handle everything plus us kids and the books. She loved to have a garden and created a beautiful yard at the house they built on Pacific Street in Bellingham. In 1971 they moved the family to the county on Harmony Road, where they lived until dad passed in 2009. Her and Dad, along with the help of us kids, raised cows, chickens, rabbits, numerous cats, a dog named Ginger and one milk cow named Nan. Always doing something, mom made butter and sold milk to friends and family. Mom was also on a healthy eating kick long before it was a thing. Home cooked meals, homegrown beef, strawberry jam, applesauce, squash and nothing from a box! The smell of fresh strawberries and jam cooking will forever be missed. She was the healthiest 95-year-old her doctor had ever seen. After all of us kids were mostly raised, mom got the travel bug and traveled the world during the 80’s. She loved planning and taking trips. She went to Mexico, Spain & Portugal, Kenya & Tanzania, China, Great Brittan, Ireland, and Scotland. She traveled with Christies Tours and went from Nova Scotia across the United States with the new bus and all around the Pacific Northwest. She loved planning the trips as much as going on them. Mom always kept busy, gardening, bookkeeping, housekeeping or her current hobby of the moment which ranged from crocheting granny squares, photography, sewing, and baking. She loved artists and was inspired by her friend Aileen’s ability to paint beautiful pictures. She collected some paintings and later some Jody Bergsma originals. She made Raggedy Anne and Andy dolls and was an excellent seamstress. One of her favorite hobbies besides travel and her love of flowers, was her collection of Tiffany style lamps. She collected over 50 of them and to her they were the sunshine and flowers in the winter when it was so “drab” and dark. After dad retired mom bought the neighboring farm of 26 mostly wooded acres, for “something for them to do” in their retirement. They worked so hard on it that it looked like a park. Mom loved to do yard work so much that even after moving into town after dad passed, she would go out and take care of the common areas and block long sidewalk in the neighborhood. Even with the onset of dementia in the final years of her life, she never stopped her love for flowers and tinkering with things. She tended to her flowers in the courtyard at Highgate right up to the end. Like a flower her memory blooms in our hearts forever. We love you, Mom! Karna was preceded in death by her husband, Forest Postma. Sister Ona Dixon and brother Lyle Leavitt. She is survived by her four children, Clifford (Diane) Postma of Bellingham. Nancy (Woody) Sabiston of Bellingham. Darren (Penni) Postma of Lynden and Nels Postma of Bellingham. Eight grandkids Tricia, Clifton, Melissa, Shari, Jonah, Nick, Micah and Levi and nine great grandkids and counting. Karna requested no services be held. Family will gather to lay her to rest in the coming days at Greenacres Memorial Park next to her husband, siblings and parents. The family would like to thank the staff at Highgate Senior Living and Memory Care and Whatcom Hospice for taking such great care of Mom on her final journey. In the end, only love matters.

Karna Nadine Postma

March 9, 1931 - June 2, 2026