Kathleen Patricia Priquette

Kathleen (Kathy) Bennett Priquette of Helena, MT. passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 10, 2023, after living with vascular dementia for 5 years. She had been residing in the memory care unit of Beehive Homes Assisted Living Community since November 2021. She was 73 years old.

Kathy was born on May 7, 1949 in Philadelphia, PA. to William and Margaret Van Den Acre. William immigrated to America in 1917 where he joined the United States Navy and served between WW1 and WW2. The Van Den Acres had 10 children, of which Kathy was the youngest by far, and eventually settled in Mankato MN., before Margaret died when Kathy was just 15 years.old. William then moved Kathy and himself to Bowman, ND., where she attended high school. Before she could graduate though she was sent to live with her sister Beverly in New Jersey. Although they were sisters, Beverly was 16 years older than Kathy and became more of a surrogate mother, while Bev's daughter Peggy became more of a little sister than a niece. The bonds created during that time period always remained strong and those relationships were unfaltering during her life. Kathy's parents and all of her siblings, with the exception of her  brother Joseph of Chandler, AZ., have preceded her in death.

Kathy married Burdette H. Priquette of the United States Coast Guard in New Jersey, in 1967, and became stepmom to his 4 children, Jonnie, Robin, Mark and Adam. Kathy and Burdette then went on to add a baby girl named Shawn Margaret to the family in 1968. Sadly, Burdette died in a tragic car accident 19 months after Shawn's birth. Kathy petitioned to adopt Burdette's minor children, Robin, Mark and Adam soon after his death and became their mom officially. Several years after Burdette's passing, Kathy married her high school sweetheart James M. Bennett of Bowman, ND., and they moved the family to Montana.

Once the family decided to settle in Bozeman, Kathy started cosmetology school at Mr. Mack's Beauty College and after graduating moved on to manage the Hillcrest Retirement Community's hair salon from 1982 to 2000. It was hard work and long days, but Kathy truly loved and cared for all of her senior clientele. It was that love and friendship she developed with all of the Hillcrest residents that spurred her on to undertake the task of coordinating the community's annual Halloween party... Kathy LOVED Halloween and spent many years collecting hundreds of costumes, which she then used to dress-up the residents for their big party. Kathy took early retirement in 2000 so that she could care for Jim's mother who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Jim and Kathy divorced in 2019 after 45 years of marriage.

Kathy is survived by her closest niece Peggy McCann of Cape May, NJ.; by 4 of her 5 children, as well as their spouses, Robin and Rob Rowsey of Helena, Mark and Athena Priquette of Bowling Green, KY., Adam and Amanda Priquette of Manhattan, MT. and Shawn and Randy Marsh of Vancouver, WA.; by 5 of her 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Regrettably, she passed before the arrival of an 8th great grandchild expected this coming September. Kathy endured a lot of pain and unhappiness during her lifetime, but she relished being a mother, grandmother and most especially a great grandmother to all baby boys.

One of Kathy's favorite quips whenever any of her children would tease her about some gaffe she made was "you're going to miss me when I'm gone!" No truer words Mom, we surely do.

There will be no funeral or memorial service for Kathy as her remains will be interred in Glassboro, New Jersey, next to Burdette, this summer. Kathy loved animals, but especially cats, and she was an ardent supporter of Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah; in lieu of flowers, she would love to know donations were made to any animal rescue organizations in her honor. Please forward condolences to Simple Cremation Montana, 648 N Jackson St, Helena, MT  59601.

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