Mike Laughlin, 69
A celebration of life service for Mike Laughlin will be held Saturday, Nov. 25 at the Salem MB Church, rural Bridgewater. Condolences may be sent to Belva Laughlin, 2403 E. Bridgecreek Dr., Eagle, ID 83616; belvalaughlin@gmail.com.
Mike Laughlin entered his earthly life on Feb. 26, 1954. Officially known as James Michael, he was the firstborn son of James & Helen (Elliott) Laughlin. Mike was ushered into his heavenly home on Oct. 9 after a tragic kayak accident.
He received his elementary education at Will Rogers and was a 1972 graduate of Sooner High School at Bartlesville, Okla. It’s hard to believe Mike was shy and insecure in his high school years. While in college at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., Mike encountered a new relationship with God that was powerful and forever changed the direction of his life. He felt led to share the Good News of the Gospel and started his 12-year association with Agape Force, a Christian ministry. He was a leader in the ministry and known for his boldness and passion in how he authentically shared the Gospel with people in all walks of life.
In his 30’s Mike started his own landscape/lawn care business. He always had a “green thumb” and loved cutting lawns, pruning trees and shaping bushes to help others develop their property. The lawn care business took a toll on his back eventually necessitating change. In his 40’s he transitioned into selling residential real estate for 12 years. Sales was a gift Mike always brought to the job. When the real estate market fell he transitioned to the sale of recreational equipment at the REI flagship store in Seattle, Wash. He loved helping customers find the right camping equipment that would fit their needs. In his 60s we moved to Boise, Idaho after Belva’s retirement. Mike continued to do sales work in the camping department at Cabela’s, another store that suited him well.
His family thinks Mike married later in life because he waited for the best. After a year of courtship, Belva and Mike were married on June 18, 1994. Mike helped transform Belva’s Seattle home into a colorful garden including the sound effects of a large water feature he built. Over the past 29 years of marriage they shared life together with its ups and downs. Early in their marriage Belva was challenged with a voice disorder which frequently made speaking difficult. Mike was often her voice and encouragement while keeping her socially connected. They stayed true to their lifetime commitment to each other “in sickness and in health till death do us part.” The first 19 years of their marriage they lived in Seattle. Besides working and keeping up an older home, they enjoyed recreation. Kayaking, biking, cross-country skiing, camping, hiking and snowshoeing were all activities they enjoyed together in the Pacific Northwest. Six years ago they readily gave up tent camping for the convenience of trailer camping and have explored much of western US. For the past 10 years Eagle, Id., has been their home.
Mike loved to fish! He grew up fishing with his father and brother, often with friendly competition of who caught the biggest fish. Mike “thought like a fish” and knew how to read the waters to cast in just the place a fish would hide. He has shared many fishing trips with many people and the fishing tales just keep growing.
Mike was one of kind! He had a magical way of connecting with children because of his childlike spirit. He had 12 nieces and nephews and gained four more when he married Belva. He was charismatic, had zeal for life, was fun-loving, witty, a deep thinker, a good problem solver and a communicator who was able to articulate complex thoughts. Mike was known as a consummate storyteller. His embellishments came to be expected and loved! He lived life to the fullest, doing what he loved to the very end. He loved the outdoors and thought of himself as a “mountain man.” Mike enjoyed historical fiction whether it be Oregon Trail stories or the Mountain Men who helped pave the way to the West. While he thrived on adventure, he was also cautious, a quick thinker, prudent and protective.
Mike always wanted a dog and that dream came true in Boise. With a fenced backyard and a nearby creek it was ideal! Cody is an energetic black lab who looked up to “papa” and was a match for Mike’s drive. They loved to roam in the open fields and streams. Now Cody represents all of us wondering, “where’s Mike?”
His passion for God, his Lord and Savior, lead him to study the Bible, not out of duty, but out of love for God. Within the last year he wrote, “There is nothing like experiencing God’s love and knowing deep in my heart that I will be in His presence forever. I am so looking forward to being in heaven where I can look on His beautiful face, to forever thank Him and love Him the way He has loved me.”
Mike died a tragic death but he was ushered into Heaven by the loving and the purposeful hands of God who said, “Welcome Home, Mike.”
Grateful to have shared his life are his loving wife, Belva of Eagle, Id.; his mother, Helen Laughlin of Bartlesville, Okla.; brother, Jeff (Carol) Laughlin of Kansas City, Kan.; sister, Kelly (Dan) Lowen of Ashburn, Va.; mother-in-law, Alma Wollman of Freeman, S.D.; Cheri (John) Hansen of Gregory, S.D.; brother-in-law, Merle (Cecile) Wollman of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 16 nieces and nephews, and many extended family members and friends. Preceding him in death were his father, Jim Laughlin and Reuben Wollman, father-in-law.
