Kenneth R. Richmond, age 87, of Helena, passed away June 8, 2025.
The Reverend Doctor Kenneth R. Richmond Chaplain (LTC Ret) was born in Detroit Michigan on 31 March 1938. During his early years the family moved around a bit to include Kentucky, Tennessee, and finally Illinois. He graduated from Freeport High School (Go Pretzels) and enlisted in the US Army. After initial training his first duty assignment was Italy where he discovered opera, classical music, and mountains. He would ask for night guard duty just to watch the sun come up over the alps. In 1959 shortly before his Army assignment was completed, he requested to attend a Baptist Retreat at Berchtesgaden, Germany. At first the pass was denied, but his Commanding Officer approved. It was a life altering experience. He met Bonnita Johnson who had come from France where her father was stationed and Ken was absolutely smitten. After the retreat they stayed in contact via a steady flow of letters. Once 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 and the following 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, went on vacation with her parents, and came back to France to a job offer from Powell, Wyoming. She was hired via telephone sight unseen.
Ken was now a freshman attending Bethel University (formerly College). Over Thanksgiving he and two friends drove to visit Bonnie in Powell. The blizzard they encountered didn’t stand a chance of preventing him from getting there, because he was going to propose to her that weekend. Although the pecan pie Bonnie mailed him for his birthday in March, probably sealed his fate. They married June 12, 1960 in Dahlonega, GA. after being together a total of only 29 days. Ken passed away June 9, 2025 three days before their 65th anniversary.
Ken graduated from Bethel University in 1963, followed by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1966. After his final year at Southern he re-enlisted in the Army and was assigned to Ft. Benning with deployment to Vietnam that fall. Following this he had numerous assignments to include Ft Lewis, a second tour of Vietnam, Germany, Red River Army Depot, and Ft Ord.
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.
He retired from the Army in 1983 and they moved back to Georgia near Bonnie’s parents. After earning a DDE from UGA they moved to Boonville, Missouri where he was the Dean at Kemper Military School and College. Following this he spent a year on the mission field in Saipan followed by 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. Finally, Ken and Bonnie moved to the Tri-Cities Washington and subsequently to Helena, Montana. He is survived by his wife Bonnita and their 4 children, Kathryn Walker of Kennewick WA, Sheila Richmond of Helena MT, Gwynne Fisher of Kansas City MO, and David Richmond of Calgary AB Canada. God indeed blessed him and led him all the way.
A Funeral Service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church. Burial will be held at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA.
Joan Stevens says
I am so sorry to hear of Ken’s passing. It was such an honor to get to know Ken and Bonnie while I was serving as pastor of Helen Presbyterian Church where Ken had served not long before that. Ken and Bonnie were both greatly loved by the congregation and I had the opportunity to enjoy their loving and fun presence on several occasions including at a party hosted at their beautiful home in Dahlonega. Their joy as individuals and as a couple was contagious. My prayers are lifted up for Bonnie and all of their family during this time of loss. The words from Scripture, “Well Done, My Good and Faithful Servant”, no doubt apply to Ken – God’s good and faithful servant, who now enjoys the blessings of heaven and eternal life with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.