Fred Hammond

HAMMOND -After a courageous battle with lung problems we lovingly said good bye to our husband, father, grandpa and great grandpa Fred Hammond. Fred passed away on April 9, 2008 surrounded by his family. Fred was born in Saskatoon on July 3, 1910. His stay in Saskatoon was brief. He was raised on the Hammond homestead one mile south west of Elrose. Fred's first school was a one room school at Otter Springs. His high school was taken at the Elrose Consolidated School. He also took a number of railroad engineering classes at the University of Saskatchewan. Fred had a passion for farming. He sowed his first crop in 1930 and has farmed ever since. He was always interested in the latest farm equipment, new technology and new crop varieties. Fred married Ella McCort on August 2, 1939 at D'Arcy, SK. Ella passed away on November 28, 1977. In December 1979 he married Helen Bargen in Winnipeg. Fred was very fortunate to have had two great loves in his lifetime. Fred served as a Councilor of the R.M. of Monet #257 from 1944 to 1956. Two, three year terms of this time were spent as Reeve. He served as Unit Board trustee from 1949-1956 for the Eston-Elrose School Unit. He also served as Chairman of the committee that helped get the Elrose Golden Years Lodge started as well as the R.M. Reeve that helped get it built. He remained on the Golden Years Lodge Board for eight years. Fred spent 14 years on the United Church Board, was a member of the Arena Board and was a Charter member of the Elrose Lions Club. Fred was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 66 years. These lodges included the Royal Arch Masons, the Preceptery, the Order of the High Priest Wa Wa Shrine in Regina, the Saskatoon Shrine Club, Coryptor Rite Masons and the Shrine Motor Patrol. He was a life member of the Elrose Lodge and of the Central Lodge in Saskatoon. Fred was an avid curler and baseball player and took great pride in his garden. Fred was predeceased by his wife, Ella in 1977; an infant son, Earl; and brothers, Leslie Hammond and Richard Hammond. He is survived by his wife, Helen; two daughters, Elaine (Roy) Piper and Eleanor Hammond; two granddaughters, Vanessa (Brian) Lewis and Krista (Darren) Cockx, and four great grandsons, Layne, Aidan, Cole and Connor; a brother, Bill Hammond; two sisters-in-law, Henrietta Hammond and Mae Hammond; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A Funeral Service will be held at the Elrose United Church at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 14. Memorial donations may be made to the Elrose United Church or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Clements Rosetown Funeral Home entrusted with the arrangements.