Annette Benoit, 83, of Damar, Kansas, passed away Friday, August 20,
2021, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. She was born June 30,
1938, in Damar to Oliver and Mary (Morin) Brin. While growing up,
Annette enjoyed babysitting for the neighbor’s children, helping with
her family’s garden, and baking.
After high school graduation, she married her high school
sweetheart, Richard Benoit, on May 21, 1956, in Damar. They were
fortunate enough to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary this past
May with their family.
Annette and Richard started their married life in Washington State
where Richard was stationed in the Army. While living there, Annette
worked in a clothing store. Shortly after Richard’s military discharge,
they decided to return home to Damar to begin their family. Once there
she busied herself with raising their five children, helping with their
dairy, and starting her career as a secretary for USD 269, which spanned
27 years.
Annette’s cookie jar was always full of homemade cookies and
cinnamon rolls were ready for anyone needing a snack. Besides Christmas
and Easter (actually every season), but Halloween was one of her
favorite times of the year. She loved buying candy for the little ones
and always had several different types of soup for family or anyone who
came by trick-or-treating. Annette also liked teaching her children to
cook from scratch, anything from no bake cookies to chocolate cakes with
fresh caramel frosting. Many summer meals included fresh fried chicken,
corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, and fresh out-of-the-oven homemade
bread. During the winter, anytime a major snowstorm was in the forecast,
the ice cream freezer came out. Always topped with a batch of Annette’s
delicious homemade chocolate syrup. Although cooking and baking were
two very enjoyable pursuits, Annette also loved to play pinochle when
she had some spare time.
One of Annette’s greatest joys was spending time with her
grandchildren and great grandchildren and taking many pictures of them.
When they were around her famous words were, “Rich, get the camera!” Her
grandchildren fondly remember sleepovers at Meme and Pepe’s. They never
lacked fun activities to do at Meme’s. There were plenty of blanket
forts, always a dress-up fashion show, and snacks for any appetite. The
grandchildren learned how to make and frost sugar cookies, butcher
chickens, round-up escaped cattle, and take daily walks to get the mail.
Meme always had room on her lap for “one more” and she never ran out of
hugs and kisses!
Annette was preceded in death by her daughter Peggy Diane; her son
Joe; her sisters: Rita, Merida, Barbara, Patricia, and Iona; and her
brothers: Levi, Clarence, Francis, and Omer. Survivors left to cherish
her memory include her husband, Richard, of the home; two sons: Tom and
wife Donna, of Damar and Don and wife Sandy, of Damar; a daughter, Nancy
Hageman and husband Jerry of Plainville; one sister, Sr. Diane Brin of
Concordia; twelve grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; and
numerous nieces and nephews. Annette believed that time together as a
family is a gift and leaves that as her legacy.
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