Kenneth Russel Richmond

The Reverend Doctor Kenneth R. Richmond, Chaplain, USA, LTC (Ret.) was born in Detroit Michigan on 31 March 1938. During his early years the family moved several times to include KY, TN, then IL where he graduated in 1956 from Freeport High School (Go Pretzels!). He enlisted in the US Army, attended Signal Corps School, and was then stationed in Italy where he discovered opera, classical music, and the mountains. He would request night guard-duty just to watch the sun come up over the Alps. In 1959 he requested a pass to attend a Baptist Retreat in Berchtesgaden, Germany. Initially denied, his Commanding Officer approved the pass, creating a life-altering experience. He met Bonnita Johnson! She also attended the Retreat having travelled from France, where her father was stationed. Ken was absolutely smitten! After the retreat they stayed in contact via a steady flow of letters. Bonnie mentioned that she wished she was back in the States and Ken responded that he knew women who felt God was calling them but never went. A short time later Bonnie was reading Deuteronomy 1:5-8 which struck a chord (God speaking to Abraham) “You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on”. Bonnie subsequently quit her job, vacationed in Europe with her parents, and returned to France to learn she had received a job offer from Powell, WY and was hired by phone, sight unseen.

Ken, now a freshman at Bethel College in St. Paul, MN, drove to Powell, WY over Thanksgiving along with two friends. Not even the blizzard they encountered kept him from getting there, because he was going to propose to her that weekend. (The pecan pie Bonnie mailed him for his birthday had likely sealed his fate.) They married June 12, 1960, in Dahlonega, GA, after being together for a total of only 29 days. Ken passed on June 9, 2025, three days away from their 65th anniversary.

Ken graduated from Bethel University in 1963, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1966. He was commissioned in the US Army Chaplain Corps, assigned to Ft. Benning, GA, with deployment to Vietnam that Fall. Ken did two tours in Vietnam, along with assignments to Ft. Lewis, WA, Dexheim, Germany, Chaplain’s School Ft. Hamilton, NY, Red River Army Depot, TX, Yale New Haven, CT, & Ft. Ord, CA where he retired in 1983.

His military awards include Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with silver star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.

After his Army retirement Ken earned a DDE from UGA. In 1988 he became the Dean at Kemper Military School and College in Booneville, MO. Following this he spent a year on the mission field in Saipan then took a position at Oakland City University running a prison extension program. Church was never far away. He had a full-time church in Indiana and another in Florida, before returning to GA. Finally, Ken and Bonnie moved to Richland, WA in 2015, then to Helena, Montana in 2016. He is survived by his wife Bonnie and their 4 children, Kathy Walker (John) of Kennewick WA, Sheila Richmond of Helena MT, Gwynne Fisher (Damon) of Kansas City MO, and David Richmond (Diana) of Calgary AB Canada. Grandchildren: Meghan Walker, Molly Gorman (Nick), Brian Walker (Kylie), Paul Fisher, Mark Fisher, and great grandson, Finley Gorman. God indeed blessed him and led him all the way.

A visitation for Kenneth will be held Thursday, July 3, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary, 7944 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92504. A funeral service will occur Thursday, July 3, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, 7944 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92504. A committal service will occur Thursday, July 3, 2025 from 1:45 PM to 2:15 PM at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518.