Obituary of Kenneth E. Hedden

None Kenneth E. Hedden Ken Ken was born May 15, 1924 in Tacoma, Washington to Benjamin and Alice Hedden. He grew up in the Edgewood area graduating from Sumner High School in 1942. He then went to the University of Washington graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy. Ken married Barbara Sweet June 15, 1951 in Fife, Washington and they lived in Palmer, Alaska from 1951 to 1953. In 1953, they moved to Tenino to establish Hedden’s Pharmacy and to raise their family. Ken loved his family, rock hounding, gardening, wood carving, fishing, wine making and bowling. He served on the Tenino Town Council and as the Mayor of Tenino. He was a Past Master of the Tenino Masonic Lodge and Past Patron of Alice Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. He was a Past President of The Tenino Rock Cruisers, Tenino Lions Club and the Tenino Wooden Money Club. He was a member of the South Thurston County Historical Society, Tenino RV’ers, Olympia Elks Lodge, Scottish Rite and Afifi Shrine. Under his leadership and with the help of others, the railroad depot made of Tenino sandstone was moved and became the Tenino Depot Museum. He also worked to increase the size of the Tenino City Park to create baseball fields and add playground equipment. Surviving Ken are his wife of 60 years, Barbara, his five children: sons Dale (Lynn) and Brian (Robin), daughters Shirley (Duane) Johnson, Janet Hedden, and Carol (Rick) Erickson, six grandchildren: Ken (Josie) Johnson, Kristin (Ralph) Gayle, Brent Hedden (Crystal Anderson), Laura Hedden, Marc Hedden, Ryan Erickson and one great grandchild, Chloe Johnson. Ken was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Willard Hedden. A celebration of Ken’s life will be held at The United Churches, 110 11th Avenue SE, Olympia, on Sunday, March 25th at 2:00 p.m. Funeral arrangements are by Funeral Alternatives of Washington. To leave memorials and condolences go to www.funeralalternatives.org. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the South Thurston County Historical Society for the benefit of the Tenino Depot Museum general fund, the museum’s Rota Farm Display or the museum’s Montgomery Logging Display, PO Box 339, Tenino, WA 98589. Please sign the guestbook below.