Our Stories
The first families settled in Valley Junction in 1893. Today, there are second, third, fourth and fifth generation descendants call Valley Junction home. These are their stories.
Listed are the surnames of known families that originated in Valley Junction.*
Painovich Family
The Painovich Family Story: Serbian Family Eli and Sophia Bogic Painovich The Serbian Empire emerged from the Medieval Serbian Kingdom,…
Leon-Negrete Family
The Leon-Negrete FamilyThe Leon family has deep roots in Valley Junction, tracing back over a century to León, Guanajuato, Mexico.…
Lula Jones and Lawrence Jones (Bell) Family
The Jones, Bell, and Rhodes Family Story: Life Behind the White Picket Fence In the late 1930s, Lula and Lawrence…
Gibson Family
The Gibson Family StoryThe Gibson family moved to Valley Junction in the mid-1950s, before the youngest child was born. Junior…
Smith Family
Life in the Little Pink House on the Corner In the spring of 1962, Judy and Paul Smith packed up…
Galvan Family
The Galvan Family StoryThe story of the Galvan family in Valley Junction begins with Crespin Galvan and Amilia \"Emily\" Valdez…
Heard Family
The Heard FamilyThe Heard Family Story L.C. Heard Sr. and wife Margaret Heard were from Centreville, Alabama. L.C. had a good…
Lamar Family
Minnie Lizzie Slaughter Family HistoryMinnie Lizzie Slaugther Family HistoryOne of the West Des Moines residents, Thressa, met a navy hero,…
Rodish Family
The Stories of the Joe Rodish & Ray Rodich Families of Valley JunctionThe Stories of the Joe Rodish & Ray…
Diaz Family
By Mary (Diaz) Murillo The Diaz family is proud to be a part of the history of Valley Junction, having…
*Don’t see your family name?
Please send us your story of how you connect to the Historic Valley Junction Neighborhood to [email protected].
Feel free to include pictures to help tell the story.
Aguiniga
Ames
Anderson
Argumedo
Beveridge
Bishop
Bissette
Bohanna
Bouma
Bright
Brody
Brown
Brownwell
Burch
Campbell
Canada
Carlins
Carlsom
Carper
Carmody
Carter
Chandler
Close
Clark
Commodore
Connors
Constance
Cox
Cooper
Crawford
Dale
Davis
Dixon
Dryer
Duncan
Edwards
Elliott
Engler
Eppright
Fidler
Fisher
Fox
Frank
Freeman
Frazier
Frith
Fucaloro
Gaer
Gamble
Garcia
Garcia
Garner
Gilmore
Glenn
Gomez
Grant
Grgurich
Griffin
Gustafson
Hagen
Haltom
Hankins
Harlow
Harris
Herndon
Hill
Hodges
Hodson
Howelton
Hughes
Hull
Indelacato
Jackson
James
Jamison
Johnson
Kamerling
Kane
Killings
King
Kinny
Kirkman
Kramer
Kranovich
Lewis
Lloyd
Long
Longcar
Love
Lovelady
Luther
Lyman
Maher
Manferdini
Martin
McGinn
McIntyre
McLachlan
McQuerry
Medina
Meza
Miller
Mitchell
Moore
Morelock
Moreno
Morris
Muhm
Newman
Oglesbee
Oldham
Page
Parker
Peeler
Perez
Perkins
Plascencia
Plecas
Pryor
Radocovich
Ramirez
Reames
Reddens
Reed
Relay
Renteria
Rhiner
Rhodes
Rodriquez
Runner
Rush
Sain
Salazar
Scott
Septer
Septer Colman
Shelley
Sherwood
Shineflew
Shoafstall
Sorenson
Spain
Stamatelos
Stewart
Stoddard
Stonich
Swanson
Swink
Taylor
Thompson
Tornetich
Tonelli
Torres
Trachel
Trumbo
Turner
Tuttle
Tyler
Underwood
Valdez
VanPatten
Vasquez
Wardlow
Warren
Watson
Webber
Williams
Woody
Young
… learn more about the families of Valley Junction!
Join Us!
Celebrate
Celebrate with us at our Annual Multicultural Festival. Have a question? [email protected] or reach out to us on Facebook!
Donate
Your financial support is appreciated. It truly matters to our work of building community and educating about Valley Junction’s and West Des Moines’ cultural heritage.
Spread the word
We love it when you like and share our posts! Please help us get the word out.