Sunset Memorial, Richland, WA

Resthaven Cemetery, located at 700 Williams Blvd., is a recognized historical site holding the history and memories of a small farming community called Richland. In 1909 the community made its first burial, a child, whose headstone memorializes this momentous event. At that time the cemetery was operated and maintained by the Odd Fellows Lodge (IOOF). The lodge continued to operate the cemetery throughout the First World War and on through the Great Depression of the 1930's. Historic Resthaven Cemetery is alive with the memories of the earliest pioneers, names like Compton, Dam, Davidson and many others, fulfilling the cemetery's promise to record the history of the community and preserve for all time the memory of those who lived and worked to build our community's early foundations.

Through the Second World War the city of Richland was United States Government property. Resthaven was not immune. The Government, looking for a way to handle the burial needs of a changed community turned to the one remaining independent entity, the Richland School District. Under the District's supervision and the daily volunteer management provided by co-owner of the old Richland General Merchandise Store, John Dam, the cemetery continued to serve the needs of the community. In 1957 Duaine L. and Rosemary "Bobbie" Einan started Richland's first funeral home just a short distance from Resthaven Cemetery. As part of their community service work, Einan's Funeral Home volunteered their services to help with the management of the cemetery. As the Government relinquished control of the community back to the people in the late 50's, an election was held and the community supported a bid by the newly formed Richland Cemetery Association, a non-profit organization formed through the untiring efforts of the Einans and a small group of dedicated individuals. The Association's only purpose would be to serve the burial and memorial needs of the Greater Tri-Cities area.

An elected board of directors, who serve without compensation, still govern the organization today. As the community grew, the Association secured 70 acres to develop a second cemetery in Richland, Sunset Memorial Gardens, located at 915 By-Pass Hwy (State Route 240and Swift Blvd.). As its name suggests, the Association's newest cemetery offers a park like setting with open gardens containing central works of art and numerous locations for burial, entombment and inurnment. For the public convenience the Einans relocated their funeral home and crematorium next to Sunset Memorial Gardens in 1970.

Historic Resthaven Cemetery is still active today, almost 100 years after its first burial. Services continue to be held there and families may still select from the many unsold grave spaces located throughout this historic cemetery.