Obituary

Ben Littlejohn Cain, age 89, went home to be with the Lord December 15th, 2018 at Christian Healthcare Center in Lynden. Ben was a wonderful man, husband, father, grandfather and a faithful and devoted Christian.

He was born on March 27, 1929 in Cloquet, MN to William and Ruth Cain. As a teenager he moved to Ridgefield, WA and graduated from Ridgefield H.S. in 1947. Ben spent a year on a tug in the Aleutians before serving 2 years in the Army. He married Carol Northup on July 6, 1951.

A longtime resident of Bellingham, he graduated with honors from WWU with 2 Bachelor’s Degrees in 1958. From there he taught high school on Orcas Island, in Carnation WA, in Port Angeles and returned to Bellingham in 1966 at Bellingham High School. He left teaching in 1967 to follow his heart into full time commercial fishing.

Ben served multiple years as secretary/treasurer of the Puget Sound Gillnetter’s Association and was a test fisherman in Puget Sound for the International Pacific Salmon Commission for 20+ years. He also fished summers in Cook Inlet Alaska from 1958 to 1970 and Bristol Bay Alaska from 1971 to 1996.

Ben surrendered his life to Jesus in 1977. He was active in his church and a strong supporter of overseas missions. He was friend to many and kind to all. His fishermen friends called him “Gentle Ben”.

His first wife Carol preceded him in death in 1997. He is survived by his loving wife Harriet whom he married February 17, 2001 and 3 children: Cindy and husband Wayne of Deer Park, WA, Karen and husband Steve of Lynden and son Ken of Blaine. He will be missed by his 25 grandchildren, and 39 great grandchildren.

We will celebrate Ben’s life on Friday, Dec. 21, 1:00pm at Baker Creek Bible Church in Bellingham

Please share memories of Ben at wordpress-271002-1416095.cloudwaysapps.com