Keizer Chapel History | Farnstrom-Gable Chapel History

Farnstrom Mortuary History 

Funeral service in the Independence area has a long history. H.M. Lines, Funeral Director and Undertaker, advertised in the 1889 publication of the West Side Newspaper. How long he had been in business or who preceded him is not known. He was followed by H.H. Jasperson, Funeral Director and Undertaker, until his death in 1910.

Keeney Brother Mortuaries served Independence and Corvallis. Arthur L. Keeney was the Funeral Director in Independence, our present location. Mr. Keeney operated the mortuary until 1929. 

In 1926 Walter and Alda G. Smith opened the Smith Mortuary in Monmouth. Three years later, Smiths and Irvin Baun bought the Keeney Mortuary in Independence which then became Smith-Baun Mortuary.

In 1953 Stanley B. Krueger managed the Smith-Krueger Mortuaries. They were still owned by Alda Smith. Mr. Krueger died in 1963 and the funeral homes were then sold to Carman and Donna Parmenter. When the Parmenters bought the Mortuaries in 1963 they built the present facilities and consolidated the funeral business into one location know as Smith-Parmenter Mortuary and later as Parmenter Mortuary, Independence.

Mr. and Mrs. Parmenter retired from the funeral service and sold their interest in the mortuary to Maurice and Starla Farnstrom in 1978. The Farnstrom family settled in historic Independence. In 1997 there oldest son, Alex, earned a degree in Mortuary Science from Mt. Hood Community College and returned to work in Independence. In 2001 the youngest Ben also did the same. In 2002 Maurice and Starla retired from the funeral home, allowing Alex and Ben to continue the tradition of personal and caring funeral service to Polk County families, which dates back to 1889.