Obituary: Hermanson, Ronald Eldon “Ron”
Age 82
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 28 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pullman with Rev.
Wesley Howell officiating.
Friends may call and pay their respects at Kimball Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 26 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ron was born to Emil and Ruth (Olson) Hermanson in Kiester, Minnesota on March 31, 1933.
He grew up in Scarville, Iowa and where he attended school, graduating as Valedictorian and Class President of the Class of 1950.
After high school, Ron was drafted into the United States Army with intentions that he would serve overseas in the Korean Conflict.
The war ended while he was in boot camp so Ron was stationed in Germany.
In 1953, Ron met his wife Franceen Nelson at a local Drive-Inn where she worked as a roller-skating waitress.
After returning home following an honorable discharge, the couple married in Lake Mills, Iowa on July 8, 1955.
Ron earned three degrees at Iowa State University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1958, his Master’s in 1964 and his PhD in Water Resource Engineering in 1967.
He was a faculty member at Auburn University in Alabama before accepting a position at Washington State University in the winter of 1972.
Ron worked for Washington State University Extension as an Agricultural Engineering Specialist - Water Quality for the remainder of his career, over 30 years, retiring in 1996.
Ron was a member of the Gamma Sigma Delta, Sigma Xi and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, the American Society of Agricultural Engineers as well as the American Geophysical Union.
He was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather.
He enjoyed working with his hands building curio cabinets for his family as well as tinkering on anything in the garage - cars, small engines or woodworking.
Ron loved the Palouse and enjoyed taking rides in the country to check out the farms.
Ron was an avid photographer and enjoyed gathering everyone at the house for slideshows.
While terribly saddened by the loss of Ron, his spirit and love of life will continue on through his wife of 60 years, Franceen Hermanson at the family home in Pullman; daughter Julie Hermanson of Pullman; sons Mark (Fran) Hermanson of Pullman and Michael (Lynn) Hermanson of Tacoma and his five wonderful grandchildren Nicole, Kellie, Jamie, Preston, and Jaeda.
Memorial contributions in Ron’s honor are suggested to the Whitman County Friends of Hospice, P.O.
Box 484, Pullman, Washington 99163.
KIMBALL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY of Pullman has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kimballfh.com