Kenneth A. Hammond

Kenneth Allen Hammond, 90, a longtime Kittitas Valley resident, passed away on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at Swedish Hospital – Cherry Hill in Seattle.

Ken was born on January 18, 1934 in Old Kettle Falls along the Columbia River in northeastern Washington.  He was raised on a farm near Lake Ellen in the Sherman Creek area of Ferry County.  He graduated from Marcus High School in 1951.  As class valedictorian, he was offered a scholarship to Eastern Washington College of Education in Cheney.  So, in the fall of 1951, he went to college.

In 1952, he did not return to college for fall quarter because he had a great job as a pond monkey for the Lloyd Matney sawmill in Ferry County.  But then winter came and the pond froze, and he decided maybe he should go back to college after all.  In January 1953, he was invited to the New Dorm social room for an evening of cards where he met Britta Jo Torrance.  They were married in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on February 27, 1954.

Ken graduated from Eastern in 1956 with two Bachelor of Arts degrees, one in Geography and one in Education.  After teaching High School Biology for two years in Camas, Washington, he returned to college, getting a Master of Science in Natural Resources from Oregon State College in Corvallis, Oregon.  During his summers he worked in a variety of harvest operations in Whitman County.

After completing his Master’s Degree, he returned to Eastern Washington State College to teach for one year in the EWCE Geography Department.  In 1960, he entered a doctoral program at University of Washington and in 1961, he moved to Olympia to work as a researcher for the Legislative Council.

In 1962, Ken joined the staff at Central Washington State College in Ellensburg, Washington on a one-year appointment, teaching in the Geography Department, and in 1963, he became the Director of Extension and Correspondence for two years.  In 1965, Ken began a doctoral program in the Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  He received his PhD in Conservation in 1969.

Ken joined the Geography Department at Central Washington State College in 1967.  He taught many courses ranging from Introductory Physical Geography to graduate level Policy and Planning.  Working with students was his life passion.  He considered effective teaching to be the most fundamental part of his job.  His goal was to help students prepare for employment, citizenship, and graduate school.  Ken mentored many graduate students and was grateful that many of them kept in touch with him over the years. After teaching in the Department for 30 years, Ken retired in December 1997.

Ken was co-editor for a book on environmental literature titled “The Sourcebook on the Environment” funded by the American Association of Geographers and published in 1978.

In 1981 he received the CWU Distinguished University Professor Teaching award.  In 1993, the CWU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi recognized him as Scholar of the Year.  In 1997, in recognition of his Outstanding Service to the Northwest Scientific Association, he was granted an Honorary Life Membership.  In 2001, he was awarded a Distinguished Alumnus Award from Eastern Washington University in Recognition of his Outstanding Service to EWU and the Community.

In retirement, Ken continued to lend his expertise in Conservation, Water Resources Policy and Planning, Sustainability, and other Environmental issues to people who asked.  He gave many lectures and freely offered his advice to those who requested it.

Ken enjoyed gardening and every year he grew a large vegetable garden at his home near the Manastash Ridge trailhead.  He would happily answer questions and provide advice to any who stopped.  He really enjoyed bringing children into the garden, taking advantage of the opportunity to get them interested in growing their own food.  He also willingly shared the garden abundance, keeping the small table outside the garden with the “Fresh Veggies – Free” sign, well-stocked with produce.

Ken is survived by his wife of 70 years, Britta Jo (Torrance) Hammond.  Also surviving are three children David (Ronnie) Hammond of Ellensburg, Janis (Bill) Reimers of Ellensburg and Stuart (Jill) Hammond of Ephrata.  There are seven grandchildren, Kenneth (Carolyn), Michael, Leah (Keegan), Jacob, Hattie (Tucker), Megan (Sean) and Justin (Amanda), and 5 great-grandsons, Roland, Layne, Otto, Theo and Flynn.  He is also survived by one sister, Dianne Madrid, of Vallejo, California.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Dorothea Hammond of Kettle Falls, brother Ralph Hammond of Omak and sister Neoma Rosen Schick of Kettle Falls.

Those wishing to honor Ken Hammond’s memory may make contributions in his name to the Eastern Washington University Foundation – Prairie Restoration Fund, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA  99004 to the CWU Foundation – Graduate Studies Dean’s Fund, 400 E University Way, Ellensburg, WA  98926.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday June 8 at the Mercer Creek Church, 1410 N. Main St. in Ellensburg, Washington.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com