Toppenish County WA

Gerard, Ida May (Hall) – Obituary

Mrs. Ida M. Gerard, 91, a former Ellensburg resident, died Wednesday at the Central Memorial Hospital in Toppenish. She had been in the hospital one day, having been in the Parkside Sanitarium in Toppenish since March 21. She was born July 26, 1866, in Covington, Kentucky. She was married to Joseph N. Gerard in Mt. Vernon, Ill. in 1884. He preceded her in death in February, 1938 in Los Angeles. Mrs. Gerard came to Ellensburg from Mt. Vernon in 1888, moved to Spokane in 1901, to Wapato in 1916, to Detroit, Mich. in 1923, to Seattle in 1925, returned to … Read more

Benz, Gladys McEwen – Obituary

Gladys Benz, 81, of 521 N. Date St., Toppenish, died Tuesday in Central Memorial Hospital. She was born Oct. 19, 1901, in Ellensburg to Oscar and Ella McEwen. Mrs. Benz was raised by Lou and Martha Evans and lived in the Toppenish area 72 years. She married Paul Benz in Seattle April 4, 1923, and they recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Benz had been a manager for Wheeler Electric Co. for 30 years. Survivors include her husband, Paul Benz of Toppenish; a daughter, Patricia Ann Aaker of Boulder, Colo; two sons, Paul Benz Jr. of Yakima and Lou … Read more

Evans, Martha Belle – Obituary

Funeral services are pending for Mrs. Martha Belle Evans, 81, a resident of Toppenish since 1905, who died Sunday May 22, 1966 in Toppenish. Mrs. Evans was born March 29, 1885 in Ellensburg, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey McEwen, pioneers of the Kittitas Valley. She married Lou Evans in 1904 and he died in 1949. She was a member of the Christian Congregational Church in Toppenish. Survivors include three brothers, Oscar McEwen, Ellensburg, Carl McEwen, Toppenish, and Clarence McEwen of Seattle; a niece, Mrs. Gladys Benz, Toppenish; and two nephews, Don McEwen, Portland, Ore., and Ralph McEwen, Toppenish.

Grunden, John William – Obituary

John W. Grunden, 94, an Ellensburg native, died Saturday June 26, 1982 at the Goldleaf Nursing Home where he had lived for the past 10 years. He was born on Oct. 12, 1887 in rural Ellensburg, a son of the late Elof and Selma (Jacobsen) Grunden. He served in the army during World War I. Mr. Grunden had worked in the hay baling business as a pressman and foreman of the bailer crew. With the exception of 10 years in Toppenish, he had spent his entire life in the Kittitas Valley. Survivors include a brother, Glenn Grunden of Ellensburg; and … Read more

McEwen, Martha Grewell – Obituary

Old Pioneer of Valley dies at Toppenish. Mrs. Martha McEwen passes away after lingering illness of several months. Mrs. Martha Grewell McEwen, an old pioneer of this vicinity, passed away at Toppenish Sunday morning at 7 o’clock after a lingering illness which confined her to her bed for the past several months [died December 22, 1918] Mrs. McEwen was born February 22, 1860, in Iowa, and three years later crossed the prairies in an ox team with her parents, settling at Vancouver, Wash. When she was 13 years old she moved to this vicinity where she has since made her … Read more

McEwen, Ralph Newell – Obituary

Toppenish—Ralph N. McEwen, 83, died Saturday, April 19, 2003 at his home. He was born November 20, 1919 in Ellensburg, WA to Oscar and Mary McEwen, a pioneer family of the Kittitas Valley. He served in the Army during WWII in the Pacific Theater and was a decorated veteran. He graduated from Ellensburg High School and Ellensburg Normal School (now Central Washington University) receiving his Teachers Degree. He was a teacher and principal at Buena Grade School, McKinley Grade School and Lincoln Grade School all in the Toppenish School District. He was instrumental in the implementation of Bilingual education in … Read more