Obituary of Kimberly Arnold Benjoe
BENJOE, Kimberly (Balchey) Arnold
“Shunka Wakan Najin - Standing Horse”
"He Sits With Eagles"
August 15, 1966- August 2, 2021
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
― John F. Kennedy
Kim, known to his family as Balchey, was a man of simple means and lived his life by his own rules. He made no promises to anyone and in return did not have expectations from others. The one thing he did do was to treat everyone equally. Balchey did not desire riches or fame and lived accordingly. He never learned to drive a car, instead he chose to walk, run or bike to where he needed to go.
Balchey did not pursue a formal education, but he was very well-read, proving one doesn't need an education to be intelligent. He lived a life free of debt, but still provided for his basic needs. If life was a popularity contest, he would easily lose. Except for a few close friends; he kept his circle small.
Balchey was a walking encyclopedia who was a talented artist, but as with many geniuses, he was reclusive.
He grew up on the Piapot First Nation before moving to Regina. He also spent time on the Little Black Bear First Nation with the Moneybird family.
Balchey may have chosen a life of solitude, but this did not mean he was not loved.
Left to mourn his passing are his mother Yvonne Benjoe; his brothers Wendell and Elroy; his sisters Virginia, Audrey, Rhonda and Kerry; his mother’s adopted children Bonny Maracle, Norine, Rosa, Stana, Dustin, Ian and Darrin; and his best friends Michael and Jason. Balchey is also survived by his maternal uncle Robert Benjoe; aunts Madeline Benjoe and Lucille Lerat; paternal uncles Michael (Pat) and Albert Kaiswatum; Aunt Victoria Kaiswatum, Aunt Margaret Obey; special cousins Danita, Margaret, Rob and Janet; nieces Darris, Tashina, Shae, Kahteri, Arienne, Brayden, Kahrina, Abreana, Erin, Demi, Alandice, Jayna, Merrick and Jahnlin; nephews Jesse, Chancelier, Chandler and Jayson.
Yvonne would also like to acknowledge her extended family, Bruce Cappo and family; Pauline Lavallee and family; Donald Pasqua and family; her aunts Jean and Rosanne Benjoe; as well as her long-time friends of the family, Jim Foley and family; as well as other family members too numerous to mention.
Kim was predeceased by his father Frank Kaisowatum; his sister Daphne; adopted brother David Benjoe III; his adopted mother Mertyl Moneybird; his maternal uncles David II (Buttons) and Harold Benjoe; maternal aunts Sandra Kitchemonia and Joyce Benjoe; paternal uncles Delbert, Ernest and John Kaiswatum; aunts Bernadette and Lena Kaiswatum; maternal grandparents David and Rosa Benjoe; as well as paternal grandparents Angus and Flora Kaisowatum.
The family would like to thank the staff of the MICU at the Regina General Hospital, particularly nurses Holly and Elissa.
Funeral Service will be held at Piapot Band Hall on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow on the Muscowpetung First Nation.
