Helde,+Gerald

1610 S. 27th Ave. Yakima, WA 98902 509-249-0362 geraldolen@charter.net
 * Gerald Helde**

**1969: **After graduation I attended Skagit Valley College for 1 ½ years. I then decided to go into farming on a full time basis with my parents. In 1963 I married the former Michelle Stollwerk of Burlington. We now have 3 children: Kimberly 4, Jill Marie 2 and David Olen 9 mos. In 1964 I bought the cattle and farm machinery from my parents and since then we have expanded several times. Today Skagit View Farms consists of 165 Holsteins and 300 acres. Along with raising cattle we raise corn and peas and do a limited amount of custom farm work. Michelle and I are both active in local, state and national farm organizations and are members of the Elks Lodge of Mount Vernon.

My wife Ione and I, between us, have 7 children ages 29 through 39, along with 15 grandchildren, ages 2 through 14. They all keep us busy—ballgames etc. I’ve been very active in community functions, twice president of Kiwanis, also vice-president of West Valley Fair and longtime director of “Sun Towers,” a low cost housing apartment for the elderly with 250 residents in downtown Yakima. Also served on several local, state, and national water and fish committees. Have appeared before the State Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, and Federal Court. During the winter is my slack time. Both of us have traveled extensively. Highlights: visiting relatives in Norway, Panama Canal, and fishing for marlin in Kona. This past fall while I was in D.C. I visited the Vietnam Memorial. **2004: **[letter to Janet Grimes] Thank you for the news letter. I just recently retired after 30 yrs as Manager / Sec. of large irrigation project here in the Yakima valley. This is the first time in my life I can sleep in and not worry about getting the job done. I have a lot of places and people to visit with out having to fly or drive home in a hurry. I will still do some consulting and plan to do some spraying, but I have employees that tell me don't worry the jobs will get done. Its time to slow down and relax. Recently I went in for annual physical and they said my heart was missing beats. Needless to say I was shocked. They tried to correct it with Meds, but no results, so last week they put me the hospital and gave me the shock pads.It worked, the heart is beating normal again, now I hope it stays. 
 * 1999:** For the past 25 years I’ve been manager of the Selah-Moxee Irr. Dist. Here in Yakima, Hops & Apple Capital of the World.