Obituary

Saturday morning December 5th, 2015, Otto Eugene Bouma went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Otto was born on February 18, 1930 to Gerben and Minnie Bouma, in Hills, Minnesota.

As a young man he grew up the youngest in a family of seven children. His family was in the dairy business in Southern California. Otto attended school at Valley Christian School in Bellflower, California where he met his childhood sweetheart and future wife, Nellie May Eriks. She was a most amazing and beautiful woman, compassionate, intelligent, and loving. She had an unwavering faith in the Lord, and bore him six children.

Otto attempted to follow in the family dairy business, but felt it wasn’t for him. With his family growing quickly, Otto often held several different jobs at the same time. He worked hard as a milker on dairy farms, milk truck delivery driver, delivering ice, construction laborer and many odd jobs.  These were long back breaking days. Otto later became a self-made developer and builder. He was a guy that liked to think of new ideas and projects.  He always had a pad of paper or napkin to make notes of these ideas and was always working the costs. 

Otto loved to travel and had a desire to see other cultures around world. He worked in the 80’s and 90’s with Campus Crusade to spread the gospel of Jesus by showing the Jesus film to small communities in Thailand, China, Fiji, Brazil parts of South America and Mexico.  He traveled around the Middle East, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, parts of Europe and Alaska. He liked to think of himself as someone who would have been an adventurer.  For pleasure, Mexico became his favorite travel spot, especially Zihuatanejo.

Otto had a special heart for providing housing for the senior population. He valued safe and well thought out affordable housing. His father, Gerben Bouma also shared this passion. Back in the 50s Gerben was the spearhead of Artesia Christian rest-home in Artesia, California, an impressive 5 star senior property even today. Otto moved his family from California to Washington to build houses during the booming era of 1969 and ultimately settling in Lynden, Washington.

He built homes all over Whatcom County, and other parts of the state including Everett, Sequim and Port Angeles.  He would pray “Please, God give me the work, I can do it.”  With the help of his sons, Otto built 100 houses in one year. Many young builders got their start by working with him. He later focused on developing and building affordable housing for families and seniors.


After retirement, Otto would often donate time and resources to the Light House Mission, Brigid Collins Family Support Center, and do ministry at the county jail.  He assisted by helping to finance many local ministries and served as an elder and deacon in several churches. Many people in need will attest to the fact Otto donated his time and money to help them out during times of need. He was a very generous man with a good sense of humor. He loved to hear or tell a good joke, and friends didn’t mind when he would often forget the punch line.

Otto was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Nellie M. Bouma. He is survived by his six children, Carol Nielsen, Gene Bouma, Rex Bouma, Elaine Durkheimer, Sally Bouma, Daniel Bouma and their spouses, 16 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, longtime dearest friend Lisa Rivera, and numerous other relatives and friends.

Please join us for a celebration of Otto Bouma’s life on Friday, December 11, 2015 at 1:00 pm at Moles Green Acres, Ferndale, WA.