Alexander M. Farnstrom - Owner, Funeral Director / Embalmer

Email: alex@cremationandburialcare.com

Alex is a Co-Owner of the funeral home. He is a second generation Funeral Director and Embalmer. Alex has officially been working in the funeral business since 1994 and took over as manager for Cremation & Burial Care of Oregon 2004 until 2009.  Alex is a graduate of Central High School in Independence and attended Mortuary School at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon.

Alex is married to Misty (Cyphert) of Independence. The couple now lives in Sandy, Oregon and have four children; Nicole, Marcos, Alexis, and Maurice. Alex enjoys sports (GO BEAVERS), car shows, traveling and spending time with his family.

In the community, Alex is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Gateway Lodge #2411, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons East Gate Lodge #155 (Past Master in 2009).  He has also been involved with the Independence Monmouth Rotary International, Montavilla Kiwanis International and has been an assistant basketball coach at Talmadge Middle School in Independence.

Benjamin M. Farnstrom - Owner, Funeral Director / Embalmer

Email: ben@cremationandburialcare.com

Ben Farnstrom is the Co-Owner of the funeral home. He is a licensed Funeral Director / Embalmer and is the manager of Farnstrom Mortuary in Independence. He served his apprenticeship at Farnstrom Mortuary before going to mortuary school at Mt. Hood Community College. While in school he worked at Mt. Scott Funeral Home in Portland, Oregon. Ben graduated from Central High School in Independence. He Graduated from Mortuary School in Gresham, Oregon.  He returned to Independence in 2001.

Active in the community, Ben has been involved with Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce, LeTip International of Dallas-Monmouth-Independence, Monmouth-Independence Rotary and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #1950 in Independence.

Ben's wife Kelly (Prough) is from Sheridan, Oregon, She works as a 3rd grade teacher at Kalapuya Elementary School in West Salem, Oregon. They have two daughters together named Riley and Berkley.

Ben assists families with at-need arrangements, pre-arrangements, pre-financing and cemetery memorials and markers. He enjoys swimming, music, sports, cars, working around his home and spending time with his family.

Ben is second generation Farnstrom Funeral Director has been helping families for over 13 years and is committed to serving those who put their trust in him and he understands the needs of the community.

Andrew Johnson - Manager, Funeral Director

Email: andrew@cremationandburialcare.com

AJ Caswell - Funeral Director Assistant

Email: ajcaswell@cremationandburialcare.com

Recently starting with Cremation and Burial Care of Oregon,
AJ is working towards starting an apprenticeship with our company. An Iraq War
Veteran, AJ volunteered to leave his Portland armory to deploy with the Eastern
Oregon 3-116 Calvary Brigade, performing convoy security missions throughout
Northern Iraq from September 2010 – September 2011.

An Oregon native, AJ has a strong passion for funeral
service, getting satisfaction out of helping families during their time of
need. Wanting to help guide younger kids into making good decisions and be a
mentor, AJ is currently in the process of being matched with a “little” through
the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.