February 6, 1932 – September 1, 2026
Ronald Blyth
Ronald McBain Blyth passed away peacefully at the age of 94, surrounded by family in Bellevue, Washington, in the home he had built 56 years earlier—a fitting place for a man who spent much of his life building things for the people he loved.
Ron was born in Seattle, the second child of Charles and Luella Blyth. He grew up in the Rainier Valley and graduated from Franklin High School in 1949. As a young man, he was active on the Seward Park swim team. Swimming became especially important after a childhood accident in which he was struck by a car while getting off a school bus and thrown into a ditch. After spending three months in the hospital recovering, he took up swimming as part of his rehabilitation.
Ron attended the University of Washington, majoring in business, and was proud to be the first man in his family to graduate from college. To help pay for his education, he spent summers working in construction in Alaska for his father. He also participated in the UW ROTC program, which helped finance his studies. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Stationed in Germany, he served as a Finance Officer with the 101st Airborne Division, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. His responsibilities included managing payroll, banking, and currency exchanges for approximately 10,000 troops—a job that undoubtedly required keeping a close eye on the numbers.
After completing his military service, Ron joined Boeing in 1957, working as an engineer on the Bomarc Missile program. A year later, he joined his father’s business, Dixon and Blyth Lath and Plaster, where he worked as a lathing supervisor and foreman before becoming a partner. Following his father’s death, Ron established his own company, Blyth Plastering. He went on to work with several large Seattle-area general contractors as a project manager and estimator, specializing in plastering and drywall. He retired in 1997, after a long and successful career in the construction industry.
Ron met the love of his life, Carmen Bjerke, on a blind date, and they shared 66 wonderful years of marriage. After their wedding, they spent six months living and working in Juneau, Alaska, where Ron worked on a construction project. They later settled in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood before building their Bellevue home, where they would spend the next five and a half decades.
Family was always Ron’s top priority. He took great pride in being involved in his children’s lives and activities, and when they reached their teenage years, he became active in their Masonic youth organizations, Rainbow Girls and DeMolay. He was affectionately known as “Rainbow Dad” to many young women throughout the Bellevue and Issaquah communities. It was a role he embraced wholeheartedly, extending his care and encouragement well beyond his own family.
Ron was equally dedicated to his profession and the industry he helped shape. For many years, he served in the local chapter of the Walls and Ceiling Bureau, eventually becoming its president. He played an instrumental role in helping the organization merge with the Northwest Drywall Association. His contributions were recognized with the Charles Clay Award and the Project of the Year Award, honors that reflected both his professional expertise and his commitment to the industry.
One of Ron’s favorite places was Hood Canal, where his connection to the water began when he was a boy. In 1943, when Ron was 11, his parents and his aunt and uncle purchased a fishing resort at Point No Point in Hansville. The family operated it for two years, and Ron was put to work helping with the boats during summers and before and after school. It was hard work for a young boy, but it helped establish a lifelong fondness for the water—and perhaps taught him early that there was always something that needed doing.
Later, Ron’s parents purchased land in Seabeck, Washington, and built two cabins. The property remains in the family today. It became a favorite gathering place and a special retreat for Ron. There was usually a project waiting for him, but he also appreciated the simple pleasures: sitting in his favorite chair, watching boats pass by, reading a good book, keeping his binoculars handy to search for whales, and enjoying the beautiful sunsets. He understood the fine art of being busy when necessary and simply enjoying the view when the opportunity arose.
In retirement, Ron could often be found in his garage surrounded by scrap and reclaimed wood, turning pieces that others might discard into something useful or beautiful. He built custom birdhouses, benches for family members, wooden toys for his grandchildren and others, and a climbing wall that continues to delight his great-grandchildren at Hood Canal. Decks, repairs, and countless other projects also benefited from his skills. If something needed fixing or building, Ron was the person to call. He had a knack for figuring things out and a generous willingness to lend a hand—often leaving behind something that would be enjoyed for years to come.
Ron will be remembered as a devoted husband and father, a proud grandfather and great-grandfather, a skilled craftsman, and a man who could fix just about anything. He worked hard, loved his family, took pride in his work, and found happiness in both the things he built and the people who gathered around them.
Ron is survived by his beloved wife, Carmen; his children, Diane Crim, Nancy King (Dale), and Jeff Blyth; four grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his sister, Beverly Huntington, and his parents, Charles and Luella Blyth.
A private service celebrating Ron’s life was held with family and friends at Tahoma National Cemetery.