Remembering LMM’s former executive director, Albert Archer

Two Celebrations of Life for Rev. Albert Archer will be held in Arizona and Washington state.

Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service on Feb. 8, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Valley Baptist Church (555 S. Mountain Road, Mesa, Ariz.) with Rev. Kevin Cowling officiating.

Community members, family and friends are also invited to attend another memorial service on March 1, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Lighthouse Mission Ministries Chapel (1312 F St., Bellingham, Wash.) with Rev. Ryan Jensema officiating.

A private burial service will take place in Bayview Cemetery, Bellingham.

Albert Marion Archer, 88, of Mesa, Ariz., passed away on Jan. 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Archer was born Jan. 3, 1937, in Corbin, Kentucky, the son of Gilmore Archer and Mary Anderson Archer, and he lived in Horse Creek, Laurel County until he graduated from Lily (Kentucky) High School in 1955. He then joined the United States Navy and served until 1959.

While on liberty from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Archer visited Bellingham and met Ruth Marie Hagerhjelm. They married on Nov. 28, 1958, in Bellingham, and they celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on Thanksgiving Day 2024.

At Western Washington State College in Bellingham, Archer earned a degree in sociology and anthropology, continued his education and preparation for ministry at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He later attended Seattle University.

After seminary, Archer first volunteered at the Lighthouse Mission in May 1972 and then served as executive director for 32 years together with Ruth, the ministry’s comptroller. After retirement and heart surgery, he worked as a security guard for 17 years at Birch Bay Village in Blaine.

Archer hosted a weekly radio broadcast, loved fishing, woodworking and University of Kentucky basketball. He also learned to operate a printing press.

Archer was a member of Northwest Baptist Church and Bellingham Rotary Club. He comforted heart patients with The Mended Hearts at PeaceHealth Saint Joseph Medical Center and cooked for campers at the Bleeding Disorder Foundation of Washington’s annual Camp I-Vy.

Whatever role Archer held in his life, he was always a man of God, a helper of the down and out, a son of Kentucky and a Navy man.

On a trip to Florida in 1976, Archer and Ruth saw a Navy A3D Skywarrior jet on display, the same model he crewed upon when stationed at NAS Whidbey Island and deployed on aircraft carriers in the Pacific. Archer wondered if there might be a remaining example available to display at Whidbey Island. The Archers became involved in the national A3D Association and formed a local committee. In April 2011, the last operable Skywarrior flew to NAS Whidbey Island for restoration to authentic Navy form and went on permanent display in 2016.

Remaining to cherish Archer’s memory are his wife, Ruth of Mesa, Ariz.; children, Jon (Linda) Archer of Mesa, Ariz., Janis Arrigoni of Whatcom County, Wash., Timothy (Michelle) Archer, of Blaine, Wash.; grandchildren Lindsey (Juan) Escalante of Lummi Island, Wash.; Zachary Archer of Bali, Indonesia, Joshua Archer and fiancé Casey Valigursky of Seattle, Wash., Adriana (Ian) Harris of Seattle, Emily Arrigoni of San Francisco, Calif., Matthew (Marybelle) East of Apache Junction, Ariz.; great-grandchildren, Javier, Ramón, Paisley, and Riley Escalante, Avigayil, Yosiah, Toviyah and Misha East.

Preceding Archer in death are parents Gilmore and Mary Archer; brother, Harvey Archer; and sister Sherry Guiher.

Memorial donations in Archer’s memory may be directed to Lighthouse Mission Ministries.

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