A Grand View of history

BONNERS FERRY — Perched on a mountain top, overlooking the Kootenai River Valley and the town of Bonners Ferry, a quiet oasis of open green and majestic old trees has become the final resting place for many people for over a century.

The Village of Bonners Ferry purchased the land at the top of the mountain in 1907 for use as a cemetery. The Grandview Cemetery Association was created in 1921, although the history of burials dates back to 1892.

“A lot of the old headstones were just a piece of board,” said Chairman of the Board Allen Fessler. “I can remember that as a little kid.”

Grandview Cemetery is operated by a small board of volunteers, headed up by Fessler. Ruth Ann Wilson is the Treasurer, who has four generations resting in the cemetery. Among the board members are Doug Reoch, Ted Helmer, Bud Sinclair, and Ingrid Spears. Alan Hamilton, the only paid employee, is the sexton and is aided by Jim Thompson, a veteran who volunteers his time.

Fessler explains, “So many people think it is the city’s cemetery, the county’s cemetery, but we are not funded by anybody. Our money comes from either deaths, burials, plots, headstone settings, or donations.”

In the past, the association attempted to put Grandview Cemetery on a tax base, but it did not pass. In order to do so, it must include all the cemeteries in Boundary County.

“There were some people that were highly against it,” said Fessler. Some cemeteries in the county prefer to remain private; exclusive to people in their own communities. Had it passed, a board of directors would be appointed by the governor and all cemeteries would be open to the general public.

“We wish we had a small tax base to make sure that it will always be taken care of,” said Reoch.

The costs for the cemetery are not only for day to day maintenance, but must also cover perpetual care. “The perpetual care was set up to provide funding, if we eventually run out of room, and we can’t bury anybody else,” said Fessler. “There is money set aside so that it will always be mowed, watered, and maintained.”

The total costs to run Grandview Cemetery is approximately $30 thousand a year. This pays the sexton, maintains the grounds, and goes toward the perpetual maintenance fund.

Despite the costs, Grandview Cemetery insists on keeping their price for grave sites well below the average. The current cost is $650 for an earth burial. Wilson said their mission statement is, “To maintain the history of Boundary County. The history is up there. It is in all the cemeteries. I think we can be proud of the fact that it is a beautiful place and we maintain a pretty low cost for a grave site.”

Much of the extra work required to maintain or improve the cemetery is done by volunteers, such as a slab bench that an Eagle Scout helped to build.

“We haven’t gone out and solicited volunteers,” said Wilson. “We would welcome them. We have tried to make sure that we always thank them profusely. The Wrestling Club and the Boy Scouts come in the spring. There is tons of needles that have to be raked- and limbs and that sort of thing- and they have been a lot of help. It’s a super good community project for any of those clubs.”

Despite the help that the cemetery has received, some areas are still in need of attention. “Our irrigation system is precarious,” Reoch states, explaining that the system and pipes running up the hill are aging.

Another cost that has changed over the years, is the water used to keep the grounds green through the summer. It used to be donated by the city, but is now an expense they must cover.

People choosing to help offset these rising costs donate money to the cemetery. Wilson told of a lady that has donated $50 every year, “She doesn’t care if we buy gravel, seed, flowers, whatever, she just always gives it as an honorarium to her parents.”

There are trees that were donated and planted, as well as a sign and stone benches. People will often donate these in memory of a loved one. “Things like that are welcome,” said Fessler.

“We are our own entity,” said Fessler. “Nobody funds us. We get no money except what we get from our services and plot sales. We do get donations, and honorariums, and we appreciate the people who do that.”

Reoch, who bought his plot on the old side of the cemetery, shaded by tremendous trees, talked about the people who come to just enjoy the peaceful park like setting of Grandview, “There are people who go up there all the time. It is a beautiful place, a piece of history.”