404 remembered with tears, laughter
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August 4, 2013 |
By Mike Ashby
 On
Wednesday, July 31, a memorial service was held
at Real Life Church in Post Falls to honor
former Bonners Ferry resident Kevin Bennett, who
lost his battle with cancer July 23, 2013. Kevin
was a Sergeant with the Idaho State Police,
based out of Coeur d'Alene.
Bennett, call sign 404, served as Boundary
County's resident agent for ten years before
being promoted to sergeant. He lost his battle
to cancer July 23.
Outside the entrance to Real Life Church that
day over fifty uniformed police officers lined
the walk, standing at parade rest. On hand as
well were several Patriot Guard members, who
added even more color and pomp to the event.
As Kevin's wife and family entered the building,
the officers were called to attention and a hand
salute was rendered to the family.
It is estimated over 500 people attended the
service, including law enforcement officers from
every agency in North Idaho. The crowd included
a vast cross section of folks from every walk of
life, a testimony to the many lives Kevin
touched in his brief 35 years on this earth.
The colors were posted by officers of the Idaho
State Police, accompanied by a drummer and a bag
piper. Pastor Bill Krause of Real Life Church
opened the Service and the crowd joined in
singing the hymn "10,000 Reasons.''
It quickly became evident as the service
progressed that this was not a funeral, but a
celebration of a life dedicated to our Lord God.
The chorus "If you want to be great in God's
kingdom, learn to be a servant of all,'' summed
up Kevin's life, which was one of total service
to God and his fellow man.
Scripture was read by Pastor Kyle Yake, and ISP
Colonel Ralph Powell spoke about Kevin.
"Snapshots of Kevin," "Reflections on Kevin,"
and "Lessons from Kevin" included pictures,
tributes and humorous stories read by Colonel
Powell and Kevin's pastors, Craig Wikoff and
Chad Wilks of Sandpoint Church of the Nazarene.
Smiles, laughs and outright guffaws were
followed by tears as Kevin's life and times were
remembered.
The stories reminded all of Kevin's motto in
life, "Go big or go home!" and of his fondness
for food.
But the overriding theme of all was Kevin's love
of God and his willingness to share Christ with
anyone at any time.
The ISP Ceremony and Flag Presentation was one
of the most moving and lovingly conducted
presentations ever performed. Our nation's flag
was carefully unfolded and presented to the
audience. It was then refolded and handed to
Colonel Powell, who then knelt in front of
Kevin's wife, JoLynn, who was holding Kevin's
son.
After a brief conversation with the boy, Colonel
Powell presented the young man the flag,
followed by a very precise hand salute.
Finding a dry eye at that moment among those
present would have been very difficult.
As the service came to an end, the crowd stood
and sang Kevin's favorite hymn, "Victory in
Jesus.''
"Sing it," the crowd was told, "as Kevin would
have, as loud and boisterously as possible."
Following the Service all in attendance were
invited to stay for refreshments of coffee and
Oreo Double Stuff Cookies, one of Kevin's
favorites. Over 2,000 Oreos were served in his
honor.
The following, "In His Own Words,'' was printed
on the back page of the day's program, an email
Kevin sent to a close friend on Sunday, October
28, 2012. It portrays the faith this man had in
his Lord.
"There is a real possibility that I will not
survive all this, medically speaking ... I love
my family. So very much. It saddens me on a
human level but as a follower of Christ I will
accept His will for my life. Please don't
interpret this as defeatist. It is not. It's
just reality. I will follow the doctors' orders
and go through this procedure and pray for
healing. I am learning to lean and not lead.
This is very hard for me. God is perfecting me
by helping me to shed idols in my life and focus
on him exclusively. A close look at death has
that effect I imagine! But what a glorious hope
we have in Jesus! I also do not want people to
get mad at God. So many people have expressed
that emotion to me. It's the wrong emotion to
have! God's ways are not our ways, and His
thoughts are so much higher. He will restore
marrow to my bones and my hope is in Him. Fear
is my enemy now and I am not giving in. God has
this one."
Kevin's wife invites anyone who would like, to
share memories of Kevin at
www.coffeltfuneral.com so that she can share
them with the Bennett children KelliJo, Blaine
and Koen as they grow. |
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