Toppinish Washington

Grunden, John William – Obituary

John W. Grunden, 94, an Ellensburg native, died Saturday [June 26] 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 bailing 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 three … Read more

McEwen, Carl Lester – Obituary

Toppenish—Carl Lester McEwen, 85, of Toppenish, died Sunday, January 31, 1988 at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Yakima. Carl was born on April 3, 1902 in Ellensburg, Wash., the son of Harvey an Martha (Grewell) McEwen. Mr. McEwen attended schools in Toppenish, coming to the Valley in 1910. He worked for the Wheeler Electric Co. until 1936 at which time he joined the Yakima Sheriff’s Department and worked for the County until 1939. After leaving the Sheriff’s Department he went to work for Wheeler Electric again and moved to Seattle, where he worked for the Boeing Company and also … Read more