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Wednesday, December 22, 2021 A supplement of the Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021 | Ferndale Record

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021| Ferndale Record

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A man, a guide dog, and more

Above, Les Molenaar and Newt, his guide dog, take a walk recently. The Molenaars’ condo on Judson Street is conveniently all on a level plane when taking the walkway to the garage. (Cal Bratt for the Tribune)

Les Molenaar's young black lab is trained, loyal and disciplined; Newt can be playful when his work harness is off

By Cal Bratt For the Tribune

LYNDEN — To say Les Molenaar has a guide dog is only half the story. Les has gained a completely loyal and attentive new companion.

Newt is the black Labrador retriever that was trained by Guide Dogs for the Blind spe-

cifically for Molenaar, who has dealt with Usher’s syndrome, a sight and hearing impairment, for most of his 78 years.

Newt arrived in the condo of Les and Lorna Molenaar on Judson Street last April. Since then, he has become an integral part of the household and also of Les’s daily routine.

Every day, Les and Newt can be seen movSee Molenaar on C5

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021 | Ferndale Record

Revitalizing self, others Becky and Larry Raney have gone from owning their own business to creating business in other countries. (Courtesy photo)

Raneys: From owning own business to creating business in other countries

By Elisa Claassen For the Tribune

WHATCOM— The Beech family goes back for generations in the small community of Maple Falls.

Becky (Beech) Raney’s mother Danna Beech Haddock grew up there, and together with first husband Wayne Beech raised their three children in the forests and meadows of East Whatcom County.

Becky, their youngest, graduated from Mt. Baker High School in the 1980s and received her college degree from

The Art Institute of Seattle in a graphic design field.

Before graduation, Becky was promoted to manager of Kinko’s Copies stores in Seattle, then Bellevue, and after two years, transferred to the model Kinko’s store in Santa Barbara, California. This store was a 24-hour store, where she managed approximately 80 employees when she was only 21.

Becky met her future husband through the Kinko’s organization. After marrying Larry Raney in California, the couple decided to return to Whatcom County. They opened their own business, Print & Copy Factory, first in a small house in the Iron Gate district of Bellingham in 1992.

Over the 28 years of operation, they went from the small house and living on site to building the current structure and moving to the beach. They also added web development, social media expertise, and marketing classes.

Becky and Larry found a way to live and work together.

Larry took the back/press area and outside sales to Larry.

Design, inside sales went to Becky. The years went by. The hours increased.

Self-care “I want to enjoy the rest of my life,” she said.

The best of people, and the hardest working, can face burnout – even doing what they love. Becky took it to heart that being the third generation in her family in the community and wanting to do a good job.

“I took pride in my business,” she said. “I loved doing what I did. I’m the kind of person who digs in and do what you can to make it work.”

Yet, the balance between work and life wasn’t always easy. Business involves supply chain issues, equipment that can fail, and staffing dynamics.

She also learned something in the process: “My busiSee Raney on C8

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021| Ferndale Record

Molenaar Continued from C3

ing confidently on the sidewalks and street crossings of downtown Lynden, getting their exercise along various routes.

The destination at about 9 a.m. weekdays is the Lynden Senior/Community Center, where Les will join the familiar group at a table close to the fresh-made coffee and pastries. He knows each person’s voice and style, even though he can’t see them, while Newt rests unobtrusively at Les’s feet.

When it’s time to go outside, Les straps a fitted body harness on Newt and attaches a handle to it. That’s the signal for action.

“Go outside, Newt,” Les says. “Go to the door. Good boy, Newt.”

There are actually three types of instruction to Newt, Les explains. The first is voice commands, which the dog is quick to learn. Then, as they are walking, Les will give hand gestures as well as turn his feet indicating the direction he wants to go.

Always, Newt makes sure the path forward is clear and safe, and if necessary he will pull back on the harness. If ever there is real danger ahead, Newt would turn sideways on Les to stop him from going forward.

“He’ll go anywhere I go in the city on a street,” Les said.

This all is an answer to long-held hopes for Les and Lorna. In February 2020 when the Lynden Tribune did a story on how Les navigated around town wearing his bright yellow coat and using a 6-foot-long white cane, the couple had just begun to explore options with Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Les has diligently pushed forward in life with ways of functioning in a barbering career, home ownership, recreation and volunteering. “Dwell on what you can do.

Don’t dwell on what you can’t do” is his motto. But Les and Lorna had recently moved to the condo with its changes.

Newt was born in California, was tested early for his potential to be a guide dog, and then entered DDB training in Boring, Oregon. “I can’t say enough about the school and the training he got -- just amazing,” Les says of Newt, who will turn 3 in February.

A representative of Guide Dogs spent two solid weeks closely assessing Les’s needs and the Lynden situation into which a trained dog would be placed. Even the match of human and canine personalities was considered.

Newt’s personality shines through in

hide-and-seek games Lorna will play with him. Also, once when Newt was allowed on a few trips to have a nicer bed to lie on, he refused to go back to the crate he had slept in at home, and indeed he was given a permanent cushioned bed and blanket that suit him. The Molenaars believed he had “earned” it.

The dog’s youthful energy is strong. “If I say, ‘senior center,’ he pulls me the whole way. He takes me there,” Les said. At home Newt will come eagerly to the door to welcome a stranger. “When he doesn’t have his harness on, he’s all dog. That’s his uniform.”

When the harness is on, Newt is all focused on his duty to Les. He is so attuned to voice commands that Les must be careful about casually saying “alright” so that it doesn’t get mixed up and taken for an instruction to turn “right.”

“We’ve never heard him bark, or whimper,” Lorna said. That’s how disciplined Newt is.

He never goes into a part of the house that is off-limits.

Beside the senior center routine, Newt gets another venture outside with Les in the afternoon. At a spot along Riverview Road where they walk, Les is working with the City of Lynden to have a bench placed with a stainless steel plate acknowledging “A Faithful Friend, Newt, Guide Dog for the Blind.”

For vehicle travel, the dog will curl up at Les’s feet in the passenger seat of the van while Lorna drives. The same is true when they attend church in Lynden, Newt is quietly at Les’s feet. Nor is air travel a problem -- same routine.

The dog belongs to Guide Dogs for the Blind, which wants him to not exceed 65 pounds for fitness and so has a definite feeding limit of two pounds of prescribed food per day plus the nibbles Les will give him as rewards on walks. No scraps from the table.

Shots and a physical exam happen at GDB directive once per year. Les brushes Newt’s sleek black coat twice per day.

The Molenaars say Newt more than meets their expectations in a guide dog.

“I just couldn’t believe what he could do,” Les says, remembering back nine months.

“But he does only what I command.”

If there is something new to learn and Newt struggles with it, the response to him is “let’s try that again,” not a reprimand.

See Molenaar on C7

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021 | Ferndale Record

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A volunteer for all seasons Anna Greta Boice has donated her time to the Lynden Pioneer Museum since 1980

By Bill Helm bill@lyndentribune.com

LYNDEN — From skiing in Austria to dancing around the kitchen table, Anna Greta Boice and her husband Bob had some life together.

And to think it almost didn’t happen.

Born in Sweden, Boice was about 20 years old when she visited her aunt in Lynden. She planned to stay in the states no longer than a year, she said.

Anna Greta and Bob Boice volunteered with the Lynden Pioneer Museum.

Since Bob's death in 2018, Anna Greta has continued to volunteer.

However, COVID-19 has halted her efforts. (Courtesy

“I wanted to improve my English,” Boice said. “But here three weeks, I met the guy who became my husband.”

Anna Greta met Bob Boice at a bowling alley in the basement beneath the old Lynden Skateway.

“Our first date was at the Skateway upstairs,” she said.

Anna Greta married Bob Boice in 1950, and they remained married until he passed away in 2018.

“It’s really lonely without him,” she said.

photo)

See Anna Greta on C9

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021| Ferndale Record

Molenaar

Guide dog Newt pays attention to Les’s hand signal and words to go to the street from the family garage.

Newt is the black Labrador retriever that was trained by Guide Dogs for the Blind specifically for Molenaar, who has dealt with Usher’s syndrome, a sight and hearing impairment, for most of his 78 years. (Cal Bratt

Continued from C3

“We’re still learning,” Les said.

Charles Nathan, Pacific Northwest field manager, said Guide Dogs for the Blind has made eight successful placements of guide dogs in Whatcom County now, counting this one.

It is a “multi-step process” that the organization, nationally based in San Rafael, California, goes through in an application, and in the Molenaars’ case near the start of the COVID pandemic the training with Newt was in-home in Lynden rather than at a Guide Dogs campus.

Now, follow-up is at least once per year by phone, visit or virtual, and there is access to a call-in technical support center as well, he said.

Pointers for interaction These are some pointers for interacting with Les and Newt if you encounter them in Lynden: • Do not try to pet Newt while he is in his harness gear.

• Introduce yourself saying, “Hi Les, this is __________.” He is very willing to talk to people.

• Once stopped, Les may need to be refreshed on what direction he is going. He will ask for that help.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021 | Ferndale Record

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Raney: Creating business in other countries Continued from C4

ness doesn’t define who I am.”

Becky hadn’t taken a vacation in 28 years. “It’s important to take time off,” she said matter-of-factly.

Becky loved her business, but it was time for a change. While working on her own self-care she discovered a solution: DoTerra, an essential oil company. It worked so well for her that she wanted to share it with others. She studied, incorporated essential oils into cooking, beverages, her daily regime, and made gifts with it.

While Becky enjoyed her improved health and her side gig over the last eight years, she and Larry started preparing for retirement and what that would mean.

She had what she called a “God moment” and knew it was time to sell about two years ago, right about the time when COVID-19 took over.

At the time she also thought of her father, who had died at age 59. She knew life was short. Her father’s brother also died young, at age 47.

The other side of transition “God looked out for us,” she said. Becky said she feels for other business owners navigating the COVID-19 business world and beyond.

In the meantime, Becky eager to be proactive with her health and to find ways to help others. She looked beyond the local community into a global marketplace.

While Becky had not considered multi-level businesses in the past – since she had a real business she thrust her entrepreneurial spirit into it.

While she has focused building the presence for DoTerra in India during COVID-19, Becky became aware of differences

Becky and Larry Raney with, from left, Joseph Bisendo, president of Essential Oils Africa, and his father in law, Dr. John S Malecela, former prime minister and first vice president of Tanzania, Tanzanian Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The group discusses African wood which is white on the outside and black on the inside, during a visit at Malecela’s home. (Courtesy photo) and similarities in the cultures and had to navigate within that. While she wanted to be there in person: the country was closed

to visitors because of the pandemic.

Becky shifted some of her focus into Africa, since there was an opening to go and

her connections in India had friends in See Raney on C10

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021| Ferndale Record

Since 1980, Anna Greta Boice has volunteered with the Lynden Pioneer Museum. (Bill Helm/ Lynden Tribune)

Anna Greta Continued from C6

Anna Greta and Bob shared “a lot of the same interests,” she said.

Such as volunteering at the Lynden Pioneer Museum.

Lynden Pioneer Museum A longtime post office employee, Bob Boice retired from his career in 1980. But Anna Great did not retire at the same time as Bob. Co-Founder of Boice-Raplee Accounting and Tax Service in Lynden (now Boice-Raplee-Ross), she continued to work while Bob volunteered at the Lynden Pioneer Museum. In fact, it was Bob Boice who volunteered at the Museum before Anna Greta.

Together, they both began to volunteer at the Museum in 1980. Anna Greta has only stopped because of COVID-19 pandemic.

In her four decades as a Museum volunteer, Boice has been treasurer, docent, accountant, she’s done “most everything.”

Troy Luginbill, who recently retired after See Anna Greta on C10

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021 | Ferndale Record

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Anna Greta Continued from C9

27 years at the Museum, said that Boice is “one of the most positive people I’ve run into.”

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Boice said she will one day volunteer again at the Museum, and that her daughter Leeann Erdmann will also volunteer with her.

“We want to be a team,” Boice said. “When my greatgranddaughter Scarlet goes in there we can hardly get her to leave. She loves it there.”

What she likes most about volunteering at the Lynden Pioneer Museum is the people.

“They’re very interesting,” Boice said. “Visitors from all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Australia. One comes to mind, a young man introduced himself as a Japanese

tour guide and was looking for interesting places to take his tours. When he found out the founder (of the Lynden Pioneer Museum) was a woman, he got excited.”

Common ground Anna Greta and Robert Boice both loved jazz music, especially Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Wynton Marsalis.

“When I started they danced all the time,” Luginbill said. “She and Bob, and George Young and his wife were big dancers, and they’d go dancing. They loved dancing and they took every opportunity.”

One time, Anna Greta and Bob went on a jazz music cruise into Canada. A knitter by passion, Anna Greta

Even as a young girl in Sweden, Anna Greta Boice loved skiing. (Cour-

tesy photo)

Raney: Becky and Larry Continued from C8

Africa. She and Larry made arrangements and went to Tanzania, which was a first for them. Not only did they go into Africa, but they met with governmental officials who

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“I know and believe in the product,” she said. While Becky has felt better with her own stomach issues and stress, she has enjoyed the new challenge of creating a path where there wasn’t one before. Her training skills from Kinkos and the Print & Copy Company are being put to use.

Not everything is easy, Becky said. One example: Shipping internationally is eye opening. One package has been sitting in customs since October 2020. She hasn’t given up. More packages have been sent.

She’s motivated beyond the business component. She cares about people.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021| Ferndale Record

ENCORE and her husband went to a yarn shop somewhere on the eastern Canadian coast.

“I bought some beautiful blue yarn, but the woman wouldn’t sell me any knitting needles because she said my husband deserved to enjoy the trip with me without my constantly knitting,” Boice said.

The pair also enjoyed skiing. Actually, her husband at first wasn’t so keen on it. After Robert retired at age 58 – in 1980 – they went skiing in Austria.

However, it may have been Bob’s domestic sensibilities that most resonated with Anna Greta.

“He became a real good cook,” she said. “Bob did everything around the house. He cooked. He did laundry. The first morning after he retired, I’m getting ready for work.

He asked if I was eating breakfast. I said, ‘no, I’ll get coffee at work.’” He said ‘no,’ and then he made breakfast. Then he polished my shoes. I thought, ‘I’m going to like this.’”

Since 1980, Anna Greta Boice has volunteered with the Lynden Pioneer Museum. Once COVID-19 has subsided, Anna Greta looks forward to returning to her post at the museum.

Dick Decima, chairman of the Lynden Pioneer Museum Endowment Foundation, said Boice “gives real meaning to the word supporter.” (Courtesy

Supporter Anna Greta Boice looks forward to returning to her post as volunteer at the Lynden Pioneer Museum. Dick Decima, chairman of the Lynden Pioneer Museum Endowment Foundation, said Boice “gives real meaning to the word supporter.”

According to Luginbill, Boice is the longest living person associated with the Museum.

“She’s been there since it opened,” said Luginbill, who recently retired after 27 years at the Lynden Pioneer Museum. “Anna Greta has supported through donations and by volunteering. She’s done all she can to make sure the museum has succeeded.”

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 22, 2021 | Ferndale Record

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