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Kevin Bennett
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January 27, 1977 ~ July 23, 2013 |
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July 23, 2013 |
 Idaho
State Police Sergeant Kevin Blaine Bennett, 36,
of Sagle, passed away Tuesday, July 23, 2013, at
University Hospital in Seattle, his
family and several fellow ISP Troopers at his
side.
Memorial services will be conducted at 3 p.m.
Wednesday, July 31, at Real Life Ministries,
1866 N Cecil Road, Post Falls, Idaho with Pastor
Chad Wilks of the Sandpoint Church of the
Nazarene officiating.
Private family interment will take place in
Pinecrest Memorial Park in Sandpoint.
Kevin was born January 27, 1977, in Toppenish,
Washington, the son of Blaine and Mary Jane
Bennett. He graduated from Richland High School
in 1995 and from Boise State University with a
degree in Criminal Justice Administration in
1999.
He joined the Idaho State Police and went
through the academy in 2000. He was stationed in
North Idaho and attained the rank of Sergeant in
October of 2012. He was a drug enforcement
instructor and served on the ISP SWAT team.
His professional career was only one aspect of
his life.
As a young man he was involved with child
evangelism and sharing Christ was a lifelong
pursuit. He started Guardian Angel, a church
security firm, and then shortly before receiving
his diagnosis helped to establish The Lazarus
Commission with the dream of forging strategic
long term partnerships to serve and empower
those among the least reached and neglected
peoples of the world.
He was a long time stalwart at the Sandpoint
Church of the Nazarene, served on the board of
Sandpoint Christian School for nine years, and
took mission trips to the Ukraine and to Haiti.
Kevin enjoyed fly fishing, water fowling,
spending time outdoors, reading, cooking and
baking. He was not afraid of trying anything
new, whether building his home in Naples, or
trying a new recipe for the family. He loved all
kids and they flocked to him wherever he went.
Whatever he participated in he excelled at it.
But the thing that surpassed them all was first,
his love for Christ, but closely followed by his
love for his beloved wife JoLynn, whom he
married on August 15, 1998 in Richland,
Washington, and for his family. He was a
terrific beloved husband, father, brother, and
uncle.
Kevin is survived by his wife JoLynn of Sagle;
his children KelliJo, Blaine, and Koen all of
Sagle; his parents: Blaine and Mary Jane Bennett
of Meridian, Idaho; brother Ryan (Anavic)
Bennett of Camas, Washington; his father and
mother-in-law Robert and Cynthia Day-Phalen of
Kennewick, Washington; brother and
sister-in-law: Michael (Ronica) Bishop of West
Richland, Washington; grandparents Pauline
Bennett of Albany, Oregon, Roy and Sammie Day of
Bonners Ferry; and six nieces and nephews:
Micah, William, Michael, John, Judah, and Emily.
The family suggests memorials to the Lazarus
Commission, 3719 Grandview, Sandpoint, Idaho
83864.
JoLynn would like you to share stories of Kevin
that will be put into a booklet for his children
at Kevin’s online guest book at
www.coffeltfuneral.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of
Coffelt Funeral Service.
Kevin served Boundary County as resident trooper
for ten years before his promotion to sergeant.
"He
is one who is always trying to help others,"
said friend and fellow ISP Trooper Allen Ashby,
who made the trip to Seattle with five other ISP
personnel Monday evening to stand with Kevin and
his family. "In the past, every penny he saved
was spent on numerous mission trips to Haiti to
help start schools and churches, and to bring
others much needed medicines and medical
supplies. He’s very giving, a devoted family
man. We serve an awesome Lord.”
"Idaho has just lost a quiet, serene, giant of a
man," said Bonners Ferry businessman and former
mayor Darrell Kerby. "I have spent 28 years
working in the eye of the local elected
officials public storm and during that time
many, many police professionals have come and
gone through my office. Kevin Bennett was
clearly a different type of law enforcement
person from the day I met him. A genteel, moral
soul with a true desire to serve his fellow man.
Yes he was a law enforcement officer. That
profession is valiant enough by its very nature
to garner respect. Most of us are often labeled
and pigeon holed by what we do for a living,
however, if you had the opportunity to work with
Kevin, his job, even though he was a consummate
law man, just was not able to describe the heart
this man had for his fellow man. Kevin will be
missed for what he did as well as for what he
would have done. Rest in peace, Sergeant ... a
giant of a man." |
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