Yakima Herald Obituary: https://obituaries.yakimaherald.com/obituary/john-hermanson-1089866826

John Ted Hermanson

February 23, 1938 – May 28, 2024

Beloved husband, father, brother, friend

John Ted Hermanson

John Ted Hermanson, 86, of Selah, WA, died in Everett, WA, May 28, 2024 after a sudden illness. He was born on February 23, 1938 in Santa Monica, CA, to Ted and Annette Hermanson. The family lived in Colorado Springs, CO. John graduated from Elbert High School.

John met his first love, Sandra Hermanson (mother to his eight children) in Tacoma, WA where the couple married in 1961. Shortly after the marriage, John was drafted into the US Army. He served as an Army Engineer from November 2, 1961 to October 19, 1963 and built roads while stationed in France. When his service ended, John returned to Colorado Springs, where he worked at NORAD and in construction.

In 1975 John moved his young family to Washington State to be closer to his wife Sandra’s family, settling first in Puyallup for a year before moving to Selah. John purchased a small house on ten acres, and built a custom home for his growing family on the upper lot. John was a Swedish master builder who built many beautiful homes in the Yakima Valley. John learned the construction trade from his father and grandfather. He hailed from a long line of Swedish builders, who built many buildings in Sechelt, Canada in the late 1800s after immigrating from Sweden.  

John loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping and exploring; he once lived briefly in a remote area of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. He also enjoyed woodworking, writing poetry and songs, and raising dogs and animals. John served as a deacon at churches he attended and was known as a good, hardworking man. John’s sister Marie fondly recalls how kind and tender-hearted her big brother was, always watching out for her, taking her skating, and making sure she had money for skates. Marie introduced John to his wife, Sandra; she had been friends with Sandra in high school. 

John was preceded in death by his wife, Sandra Ellen Hermanson (1995); first born daughter, Sally Hermanson (1964); parents, Annette (1938) & Ted (1980); step mother Janiece Hermanson (1992); sister, Sharon Waldron (1998); and great granddaughter, Heidi Josephine Hamilton (2024).

John is survived by his daughters and one son: Leita Hermanson, Tami Garcia (Lou), Lana Hermanson (Jim Box), Rachel Hermanson, Calvin Cruz (Michael), Sarah Gilliam (Jim), and Ronda Hamilton (Kevin); 12 grandchildren, two great grandchildren, two sisters, Marie Schuler (Lou) and Lori Farris, and a brother, Phil Hermanson.  

A graveside service will be held at 2 pm on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, 3001 Terrace Heights Dr, Yakima, WA 98901.  The Funeral Home is Keith & Keith.