Edna (Deines) Baum, 86, died peacefully on Friday July 11th, 2025, at Cherry Creek Cottage in Kennewick, Washington. Edna was born on January 8th, 1939, to Ike and Clara Deines in Henry, Nebraska. When Edna was two years old, the family moved to Kennewick. Edna went to Kennewick schools and graduated from Kennewick High School in 1957. In July of that year she married her high school sweetheart, Gene Baum. They were married 60 years before his passing in 2017. Edna worked as a motel maid and then spent many years working in the kitchens as a head cook at Kamiakin High School, Desert Hills Middle School and Riverview High School in Finley until her retirement in 1996. Needless to say, Edna was a wonderful cook, and she was the one to call in the family if anyone had any food related questions. She was always very artistic and made beautiful quilts. She also was an excellent China painter. She entered many hand-painted items in the fair and won numerous ribbons. Edna went to Germany to meet relatives with her sister and brother-in-law and went to Lincoln City Oregon every year with the whole family. Her last trip there was for her 80th birthday.

Edna was preceded in death by her husband, Gene and her two brothers. She is survived by her sisters, Shirley Pierce, Lois Roberson and Billie Lantzer. Her children are Robin (Jim) Ward of Finley, and Linda (Bill) Gwinn of Kennewick. Her grandchildren are Kimberly (Colin) Bates, Derek Ward, and Emily (Dakota) Tripp all of Kennewick, Karli (Brandon) Teagle of Finley, and Kevin (Jess) Gwinn of East Stroudsburg, PA. She has 7 great granddaughters: Savannah, Olivia and Penelope Bates, Ava and Audrey Teagle, Chloe and Kinsley Tripp and one great grandson Colter Tripp. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank LeAnn Touchette and her kind and caring staff at Cherry Creek Cottage. We would also like to thank the many friends and relatives who visited mom while she was there. She really enjoyed those visits.

The family is having a private graveside service. There will be a family and friends get together on Saturday, August 9th from 10:00 am until noon at the Lampson Building at 607 E. Columbia Drive in Kennewick at the base of the cable bridge.