Scott Bethke died on November 5, 2024, after a five-year battle with cancer. He was a trooper to the very end, continuing to work on projects out at Bellingham International Airport (BLI) until a few days before his death.
Born on May 14, 1954, Scott was a fourth-generation Whatcom County resident. He grew up on Smith Road in the house his Norwegian grandfather built, which was on five acres of land. Scott’s childhood included rural chores, but also gave him opportunities to tinker with cars, machines, and build RC model airplanes. Those RC airplanes were his starting point into aviation, and he eventually progressed to piloting and maintaining Gulfstream jets. During his 45-year career, Scott worked as a pilot and director of maintenance for a number of corporate aviation departments, the most recent being the Evolution Group. He flew extensively throughout the Northwest but touched down in many other places around the world. Over the years, he logged 19,000 flight hours, 7,500 of which were on float planes.
Scott always had several personal projects underway. One of his favorites was his Hiller 12B helicopter which he rebuilt and enjoyed flying. He was always generous with his time and knowledge and helped others with their aviation projects. His natural aptitude, training, and perseverance, all contributed to his MacGyver-like approach to problem solving. If it could be taken apart, it could be fixed…. usually by Scott himself. Scott was an accomplished pilot as well as a talented tinkerer. When he wasn’t flying, he was busy fixing. He always enjoyed the beauty and recreational opportunities that Whatcom County offers. During his lifetime he spent quite a bit of time with friends and family in the mountains and on the water, hiking, skiing, scuba diving, and boating. He liked cruising in a trawler out in the San Juans in the fall, preferably a rented Nordic 42. In his younger days he was also an enthusiastic participant in the Ski to Sea race. Scott will be remembered fondly for his enduring positive outlook on life and willingness to share his expertise. With Oscar, his Scottish terrier, riding shotgun in his truck, he was a trusty beacon at BLI for many years. Loved and respected by his coworkers, friends, and family, his memory will always be a bright one.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Amelia, who died unexpectedly in 2019.
Scott is survived by his wife of 42 years, Emme (EV), sister Shelley Colglazier, brother Rob Bethke, and son-in-law Kristian Tollefson.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Scott’s memory can be made to the Whatcom Humane Society in Bellingham, Washington.
A service is being planned for Spring 2025. To check for updates on service details, and to share your memories of Scott, visit www.westfordfuneralhome.com.
