Freda Menard, 96, of Yakima passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Crescent Health Care in Yakima.
Mom was born May 5, 1915 in Sugar City, Idaho to Alexander and Marie (Walters) Treise, who were German immigrants who came to the U.S. from Russia in April of 1907.
On February 5, 1937 she married Uldage A. “Buck” Menard in Walla Walla, WA. Together they farmed in the Wapato area until 1955. They then moved and farmed in the Granger area until 1993 when they moved to Zillah to retire.
Besides working with Dad on the farm, Mom was a meticulous housekeeper and a wonderful cook. She loved fixing dinners for family and friends and was well known for her chicken dinners, which included mashed potatoes with a generous portion of cream cheese to make them oh-so-good. One grandson in particular was known to stop by around suppertime just to enjoy some of Grandma’s cooking.
Mom also took pride in her yard. She would spend several hours a day tending to her flowers. Dad never had to edge the grass around the flowerbeds as Mom would be down on her hands and knees trimming the grass by hand. She was also known to use a straight edge and a butcher knife to trim the grass around her flowerbeds.
Mom moved to Yakima in 2004 to live at Crescent Place. The little extra things that people like Linda and Renae, along with the rest of the staff, did for Mom allowed her to stay there until finally moving to Crescent Convalescent late last year. Mom died very peacefully and, as was one of her favorite sayings, “That’s the main thing.”
She is survived by a son and his wife, Ray and Sandie Menard of Yakima; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Buck; one son, Larry; four brothers, Alex, Henry, Harry, and Alfred; and two sisters, Emma and Lydia.
A family memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory of Yakima.
Ray and family… Sorry to hear about Freda…she was my Aunt’s sister, but she was always like an aunt to me; Also in her obit I remember she always had a “meticulous” home….those floors and windows were always sparkling! Also I enjoyed many of those “chicken dinners”! I had heard your Mother had moved to Yakima, but I never could find out where!! 96….sounds like she kept her health pretty well……Dad was 2 months short of 94! As mentioned in her obit…..I do remember her favorite saying!! Freda will be missed. Ray drop me an e-mail and let me know how you and all your family and remaining relatives are and what they have been doing in their lives.
Remembering your Mother always Your friend Shirley Davis Hargraves
