Toppenish Washington

Benz,Paul A. – Obituary

Paul A. Benz Sr., 91, of Yakima and formerly of Toppenish, died Saturday [October 3, 1987] in Yakima Convalescent Center. Mr. Benz farmed and operated a produce warehouse in the Toppenish area for many years, and was active in the American Legion Post No. 50 of Toppenish. Survivors include two sons: Paul A. Benz, Jr. of Toppenish and Lew E. Benz of Vancouver, Washington.; and a daughter, Patricia A. Aaker of Boulder, Colorado. Colonial Funeral Home in Toppenish is in charge of arrangements. (Died October 3, 1987) Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Couch, Minnith O. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Minnith O. Couch, 74, of Toppenish, Washington, died Saturday, Oct. 29, 1983 in St.. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Idaho. He was born Dec. 21, 1908 in Wallowa, to Leonard and Minnie (Fisher) Couch. He attended schools in Wallowa, graduating in 1927 from Wallowa High School. He attended Oregon State University; then he served in the Army during W.W.I, earning the Victory Medal, the American Theater Service Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal. In 1945 he was discharged and went to work in Portland, as an oiler in the Jones Lumber Company sawmill. He moved to … Read more

McEwen, Mary Louise Hyde – Obituary

Toppenish—Mary Louise McEwen, 81, of Toppenish passed away at the Providence Hospital, Toppenish, on Friday, November 27, 1998. She was born on January 24, 1917 in Ashley, ND, the daughter of John and Mary Hyde. When she was three-years-old, the family moved to Quilcene, Washington, where she was raised and educated. She moved to Granger in 1945. She married Ralph McEwen [son of Oscar McEwen and Mary Peffers of Ellensburg]on March 25, 1978. Mary’s hobbies included crocheting, feeding the animals and spending time at Liberty where she and Ralph had a summer home. She was an avid traveler and had … 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.

Johnson, Retta Harris – Obituary

Mrs. Retta Johnson of Toppenish, Route 1, died Saturday [May 22] evening at the age of 42. The deceased, who was born in California, had lived in this community 28 years. She leaves her husband, Dexter Johnson and two children, Grace Muggy and Claude. The funeral service will be held Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. from the Hopkins Mortuary in Toppenish with Rev. A. S. Ford officiating. Burial will be in Toppenish Cemetery. Yakima Daily Republic, May 24, 1943 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Fogarty, Edward Francis – Obituary

E. F. Fogarty, 72. well-known Ellensburg accountant, died at his home at 509 North Ruby Street early this morning. He had been ill with a heart affliction for the past 16 months. He had been a resident of Ellensburg for 53 years. He was born at Springfield, Ill., July 31, 1869. He was educated there by the brothers of the Notre Dame University and was graduated from Bogardus Business College in business administration. In 1887 he came west and joined his three brothers in business in a merchandise store which they operated until the fire of 1889. For five years … Read more

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

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, Vicky – Obituary

Selah—Vicky McEwen, 42, of Selah, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 1996 at her residence. She was born June 26, 1954 in Toppenish to Ralph and Barbara (Jordin) McEwen. She was raised and educated in Toppenish and had been a long-time Yakima Valley resident. Vicky enjoyed raising houseplants, flowers, and gardening. She was a people person which showed in her profession as a Certified Nurse’s Aide. Vicky very much cared for animals and the pets she adopted as her own. She is survived by her mother, Barbara Miller of Yakima; her father and stepmother, Ralph and Mary McEwen of Toppenish; a … 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

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

Obituary of John Bull

Private services were held Tuesday at the Sunnyside Memorial Park Chapel for John Bull, 85, who died Feb. 10 at his home in Toppenish after a long illness. John Bull was born in Ellensburg and lived here until 1919. He is survived by his wife, Ida K. Bull of Toppenish and three daughters, Mrs. Spencer Short, Ellensburg; and Mrs. F. M. Petrie and Mrs. Seville Schaeffler, both of Toppenish. Daily Review/Ellensburg, February 12, 1959 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Shoemaker, Mark D. “Monk” – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Mark D. “Monk” Shoemaker, 65, a longtime St. Helens resident, died Dec. 21, 2003, of natural causes. At the family’s request, disposition was by cremation. No service is planned. Mark was born on March 27, 1938, at Toppenish, Wash., to Marcus T. and Lorraine V. Embrey Shoemaker. He attended grade schools at Hermiston, where he lived a large part of his life. He was a 1957 Hermiston High School graduate and later moved to Coquille and then to the Myrtle Point area where he went to work for Roseburg Lumber Co. for several years. In the mid-1960s, Mark … 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

Evans, Llewellyn Walter – Obituary

Toppenish residents were shocked to learn early this week of the death of Sheriff Lew Evans. Mr. Evans who lived on a ranch near Buena was for a number of years a community leader in Toppenish. Death came to the popular county official in St. Elizabeth Hospital where he was taken after he had suffered a heart attack at his home one hour before. He died at 12:30 Tuesday morning [January 4, 1949]. Funeral services will be held in Shaw & Sons Chapel in Yakima Friday afternoon at 1:30 with burial in Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Hopkins Mortuary has charge … Read more

Huss, Ray Anthony – Obituary

Ray A. Huss, 78, of Parker, a farmer and 50-year resident of the Yakima Valley died Sunday [March 29] in Central Memorial Hospital, Toppenish. Mr. Huss was born at Ellensburg and came to the Valley from there. He had belonged to several Valley granges and was a past master of the Riverside Pomona Grange. He had retired from farming in 1957, and most recently had resided here. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Ethel Huss, Parker; two daughters, Mrs. Vivian Norby, Tacoma, and Mrs. Muriel Young, Parkdale, Ore.; four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. His son Ray Huss Jr. died several … Read more

Wheeler, Charles – Obituary

Charles Wheeler, a young man who was raised in the valley, but who has lately been living at Toppenish, died on Thursday [August 12, 1909] at the home of Phil Olmstead. He was about 23 years old and was a son of G. W. Wheeler. Charles was born January 16, 1884 in Ellensburg. His parents were George Washington Wheeler and Anna Montgomery. He was single. Charles was interred at the IOOF Cemetery. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

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