The Golden Valley Cemetery was founded on May 17, 1869 by 12 of the earliest settlers in the area. The settlers were Henry Yentsch, Sr., Henry Yentsch, Jr., Frederich Boldt, Peter Bofferding, Ignatius Becker, Charles (Carl) Nassig, William Younker, Friedrich Bies, Johann Matthaeus Messerschmidt, William Roggeman, John Roggeman and David Bies. Henry Yentsch, Sr. received a Land Patent on June 1, 1865 for 160 acres which included what is now the cemetery. The original cemetery size was 0.5 acre. The cemetery was expanded to 1.0 acre on June 7th, 1939. The cemetery has been reduced in size by the widening of Winnetka Avenue and Medicine Lake Road to 0.81 acre.

The cemetery was first organized under the name of The Crystal Lake and Minneapolis Township Cemetery. The name was changed to Golden Valley Cemetery on May 20, 1907. On May 22, 1968, the name was changed to The Mutual Cemetery Association of Golden Valley. The association subsequently turned the cemetery over to the City of Golden Valley and it is now known as Golden Valley Public Cemetery.
(cemetery bio by member 46839941)