Barbara S Balthazor Benoit

Barbara S (Brin) Benoit Balthazor passed away Thursday, October 9, 2015 at the Hays Good Samaritan Center in Hays, Kansas at the age of 83. She was born on March 20, 1932 in Damar, Kansas to the late Oliver and Mary (Morin) Brin. She grew up in Damar and graduated from Damar High School. Later she received a Teaching Certificate from Marymount College then graduated from Fort Hays State College with a Bachelor’s Degree and from where she received her 50 Year Alumni Certificate. She taught school for 27 years, starting in West Plainville, Webster, and then Damar (USD #269) before retiring. On August 25, 1953 Barbara was united in marriage to Gilbert Vernon Benoit in Damar. To this union were born three children. Gilbert passed away on February 26, 1977. In 1979 she was united in marriage to Phillip Paul Balthazor. Paul passed away on July 6, 1992. Barbara loved her friends, family, neighbors, community, and students. She devoted many hours of work helping to organize, edit, print, and publish the book, Centennial Highlights and History of Damar, Kansas: "Celebrating 100 Years," 1888-1988. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Damar, the Ladies of St. Ann’s, and a CCD teacher. In later years she enjoyed dancing, going on mission trips, making pilgrimages, and taking cruises. Barbara is survived by her loving companion and best friend of 23 years, Norman Fisher of Hays; son Tim Benoit and wife Brenda of Damar; daughter Treva Benoit and husband Kerry McCue of Hays; stepsons Terry Balthazor and wife Kay of Columbia, MO, Greg Balthazor and wife Karla of Stockton, and Pat Balthazor; stepdaughter Paula Balthazor of Canyon, AZ; sisters Annette Benoit of Damar, Patricia Ficken of Damar, Iona Knipp of Hill City, and Sr. Diane Brin of Rome, GA; grandchildren Bryn Benoit, Alex Benoit, and Jena Ernsting; 11 step-grandchildren; and 16 step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Oliver and Mary Brin, husband Gilbert Benoit, husband Paul Balthazor, brothers Clearance, Levi, and Frank Brin, sisters Rita Newell, and Marida Newell, and son Terry Benoit. As a teacher, Barbara impacted countless students and their families. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend she taught us all by example how to live with strong faith, abiding hope, and the greatest of all, deep love. Her love will be missed, but her legacy will live forever in the hearts and lives of all who knew her.