Obituary

On Sunday, June 9th, 2024, our beloved Michael “Mike” Dodd, aged 72, passed away with his devoted wife of 47 years by his side and the support of the hospice house staff that were a blessing to the end. He was a father, husband, grandfather, and friend who was deeply loved and a pillar of the community.

Born on September 14, 1951, in Bellingham, Mike was raised in the Silver Beach neighborhood as a child. Graduating from Sehome Hight School in 1969, he later became a commercial fisherman in various locations throughout the Pacific Northwest and Puget Sound. He then worked at Sea K Fish Company. After spending 20 years with the Port of Bellingham, the latter portion of which with the title of Terminal Supervisor, Mike made a major career change to pursue his passion for working with the youth. Prior to his retirement in August 2023, Mike drove bus #9 for the Nooksack Valley School District for 18 years. As an active member of his community, he was referred to fondly by many families from his bus routes throughout the years at “Mr. Mike.” Esteemed for having a warm, welcoming nature, Mike valued creating positivity in the lives of anyone he interacted with; often the first smile of the day for coworkers or the children and their families along his morning route. Throughout his career, he was known for his hard work, dedication, jovial demeanor, and his desire to go above and beyond for others.

In his free time, Mike could often be found fishing on many of the local rivers or preparing for his next fishing adventure. Throughout the years, he also enjoyed camping with his large extended camping family, exploring local breweries or attending live music events. With an interest in a variety of sports, attending or watching sporting events from high school to professional levels was something Mike was known for and showed support through his choice of wearable sports gear. In the quieter moments, he enjoyed creating model vehicles and boats or crafting flies for fly fishing, amongst many more hobbies that kept his life full and enriched. Mike was always eager to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with others, typically providing comedic relief when needed to those around him.

But more than anything else, Mike was a devoted father and grandfather. He spent a lot of time with his children and grandchildren. Being a strong advocate of family game nights and quality time, introducing interesting crafts and projects, or cooking and baking new homemade recipes were all fond memories his family hold dearly. As a supportive and encouraging guide, Mike was always there no matter what challenges they faced. To his family, he was a rock that created strength through life’s difficulties.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Lori A. Dodd, his daughters and son-in-law John & Cassie M. Allen of Oak Harbor, and Haley J. Dodd of Bellingham, and his grandchildren, Liliana, Isaiah and Emri along with baby Allen who is due to make their entrance to the world in January of 2025. He also leaves behind his sister Glenda Hedberg. He was preceded in death by his brothers Fred and Larry Dodd.

A memorial service will be held for family, friends and community members that would like to celebrate “Mr. Mike’s” life. The service will be held June 29th in the Nooksack Valley Hight School’s Performing Arts Center at 1:00 p.m. located at 3326 E. Badger Road, Everson, WA 98247. In lieu of flowers the direct donations to the Whatcom Hospice House or to the following GoFundMe account graciously set up to help navigate the upcoming difficult changes: https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with-mike-dodds-family-in-their-time-of-need?utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_source=face-book.

Additionally, if you have any photos or video memories with Mike or would like to view a collection that displays some of our most cherished memories, please follow this link to do so: https://dropevent.com/MikeDodd.