Calvin Gordon Linden
A memorial graveside service for longtime area resident Calvin Linden will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 1, at Mountain View Cemetery in Goldendale. Linden died in Goldendale July 21, 2010, at the age of 85.
Calvin Gordon Linden was born in Goldendale on Nov. 21, 1924, to Velma Grace (Ward) and Frank Peter Linden. The Linden family had settled in the area long before Cal was born, beginning with his grandfather, Joseph, in 1881. Cal grew up on the family farm in Centerville and attended Goldendale High School where he lettered in basketball all four years and was senior class president in 1943. He left the area for only two years during the 1950s before returning to take over the business, Triple-L Farms, from his parents. Operating 2600 acres of wheat, barley and alfalfa was hard work, but according to Cal, the reward of harvesting a good crop was worth the sacrifices a farmer had to make. He took pride in seeing what he and his family had built with their own hands and instilled this pride and work ethic in his children. Even after he retired and passed the reins on to his son, Cal still referred to himself as a farmer.
During his life, Cal took on many leadership roles in the community. In 1953, Frank and Sons were named Cattlemen of the Year and Cal became a charter member of the Cattlemen's Association in 1977. He served as a supervisor for Klickitat County CKCD from 1967 to 1982 and the State of Washington Soil and Water Conservation Committee supervisor of Central Klickitat District in 1967. Cal attended the Klickitat County Fair and Rodeo practically every year he lived here and served on the fair board, was vice president for three years and then president in the early 1960s. He was named Grand Marshall in 2004.
Linden will be missed by his wife, Eleanor, of Goldendale; son Terry L. Linden and his wife Sharon of Goldendale; daughter Patricia K. Riley of Goldendale; stepson Douglas Blum and his wife Mary of Portland; stepdaughter Julie Wickman and her husband Rodney of Vancouver; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, with one on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents Velma and Frank and his brother Duane F. Linden.
Columbia Hills Memorial Chapel is handling funeral arrangements.
