Kenneth Bennett

Kenneth Eugene Bennett, age 88, passed peacefully into the arms of his creator on Thursday, January 28, 2021.

Ken was born in his parent’s home in Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands, Washington on September 9, 1932. He was welcomed by his parents, Fred and Emily Bennett, and his four older siblings. In his early childhood, his dad would often hold him on his lap while the family sat around the radio listening to shows like Fred Allen, Jack Benny and the Lone Ranger.

Life was not without its hardships. When Ken was about 12 years old, while living in Los Angeles, he contracted Polio. Many times over the years he would recount the story of being in the hospital for several weeks and being put in the women’s ward because there was not enough room for him in the children’s unit.  He often spent his days in a wheelchair helping the overworked nurses feed those who were unable to feed themselves or help in other ways

Ken enjoyed hunting, fishing, scuba diving and racing stock cars. Although he dropped the sport of racing cars and scuba diving while his children were still young, he taught his children how to hunt and fish as a source of food. For a short time, he raised chickens, starting with an old pinball machine that he converted into an incubator. One year he received a nice Christmas bonus and surprised his family by bringing home sleeping bags, pup tents, a portable propane stove, and other equipment.  He instilled the love of camping in his family and they had many memorable family trips into the great outdoors over the years.

Ken was passionate about automobiles and you would often find him with his head stuck under the hood of a car or his feet sticking out from underneath. Greasy hands, along with GoJo and Lava soap were constantly present in his home. He was generous with his mechanical skills and would often stop and help people with car trouble along the road.

Ken loved life. He enjoyed a challenge, was always fair, and would never turn away someone in need.  When his children were in their teens and as young adults, Ken would welcome their friends to the family and several of them became honorary family members and still are to this day.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Emily Bennett, brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Alma Bennett; sister, Lillian (Toot) Norton; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Gen and Paul Ewing, Verniece and Ashley Read, as well as his niece, Christy Olmstead. He is survived by the love of his life, Carole Bennett, son and daughter-in-law, Eugene and Jeannette Bennett; daughter, Tina Bennett-Noe, daughter and son-in-law, Terrie and Ron Wagner, five grandkids: Bambi Rebecca Noe, Jeremy Noe, Rebecca Wagner, Bethany Brown and her husband Colin, Andrew Wagner and three great-granddaughters: Inara Brown, Mirae Brown and Aurelia Brown, and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

It is not with sadness that I end this, but with sweet memories.  The world is a better place because of Kenneth Eugene Bennett. He has left a legacy of love, kindness, and helpfulness. His memories will live on in the hearts of those whose lives have been impacted by him.

Ruthie - “He was an exceptional being who lived a life of integrity, morals, ethics, and humor.”

Arlene - “Kenny was one of the main characters of my childhood.”

Jannett - “He was a character! The ‘rebel’ of the Bennett kids.”

Dawn - “The wild child on his motorcycle!”

Tarey - “Without any fuss, he always stood up for and beside me. He happily taught me loads of boy stuff, from how to and how not to drink straight whiskey, shoot, weld, tune-up a car, find a dark horse in a dark rainstorm, and set up camp to take advantage of wind and weather.”

Jannett - “My most memorable moment with Uncle Ken was walking out of Grandma’s back door just as he was skinning a rabbit! I’m sure I screamed and ran back in the house horrified.”

Tarey- “Rick, remember that night in the shop with Ken and Grandpa, whiskey and a rebuilt engine? Ken said, ‘I know you're going to get drunk sometime soon... I'm doing it now where you're safe and dry. It might save your life someday.’ Mom would've killed him!”

Kathy- “Funny what memories come. Him in Grandpa Bennett’s green rocker with a giant pumpkin pie Grandma Emily made him for doing a chore for him”. Another time “I remember him giving us ‘beef’ that we were eating when mom and dad had a friend of theirs over who happened to be a Sheriff and we said it tastes funny (venison does not taste like beef) and mom shushed us (not hunting season!!)”

Milana- “My memories of Uncle Kenny are from the side lines, always watching that cigarette that never seemed to extinguish itself, his absolute desperation when one of the girls got sick at our house and they found out she was diabetic, I always thought that was reserved for Grandma Bennett. He was the last extended family to talk to my mom after her MASSIVE stroke, but the brain remembers and she moved at the sound of his voice and his laugh. Keep laughing Uncle Kenny and don't let that cigarette light ever go out!”