Karen Christine “Kaycee” Hoffman Benninghoven sadly passed away on October 31, 2022, at the age of 75 in Eureka from heart failure.

Kaycee, originally of Indiana, was the second of three children and grew up on her family’s farm where they raised beagles, chickens and pigs. Her childhood nickname was Happy, because she was full of joy. After high school she joined the US Navy and soon meet her husband of 50 years, Theodore Benninghoven. She was honorable discharged from the Navy after becoming pregnant with their first of three daughters. They spent many of their years in the Navy overseas in Guam and Hawaii. They later retired to Eureka to be close to family where she was a resident for over 32 years.

While Ted was out to sea, Kaycee was known to take small jobs, such as working for the Census and making birthday or anniversary cakes. Always a family woman, she tried to instill good values and morals into her daughters and grandchildren so they would be strong and independent people. She was a Girl Scout cookie mom, an ROTC mom, a band class mom, and a room mother for her girls. She was always willing to volunteer at her girl’s schools; from marching in the symphony fun run in Hawaii with her girl scouts in the 1980s, to working the firework booth for NJROTC in the 1990s. She loved arts and crafts, sewing, baking, music, reading, old movies, and watching Jeopardy nightly.

After losing her sight in 2003 due to complications of diabetes, it was discovered in 2004 that she had end stage kidney failure and went on dialysis. For 18 years she was transported three days a week by Dial-A-Ride, to the Fresenius Kidney Care dialysis center, where she would gift her drivers and the staff with various treats and a smile on her face. Kaycee was also active in the low vision group here in Humboldt and made use of the California State Talking Books Library to continue her love for reading.

Kaycee was preceded in death by her husband Theodore, her parents Walter and Wanda, and older brother Rusty. She is survived by her daughters Kathrine; her husband Roger and daughter Mariko, Mary; her husband Douglas and son Michael, and Margaret; her husband William and son Cyler, together with her younger sister Roberta, nieces Dulci, Franki, and nephew Matthew.

We would like to make a special thank you to the Eureka Fresenius Kidney Care Dialysis unit. These ladies and Gentlemen have provided the best love, care and support for the last 18 years.

Kaycee was cremated, per her wishes, and will be sprinkled out at sea, along with her husband’s ashes, due to their joint loving connection to the US Navy.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Kaycee Benninghoven’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.