Richard (Richie) J. Bennington led an adventurous life, filled with family and friends.
“My dad was the greatest person I know,” his daughter Akkahllia Bennington said.
Richard (Richie) J. Bennington was an adventurer and a talented man who lived
life to the fullest. Above all, he loved his family.
Richie was born on August 18, 1975, in the South Beloit area. He attended
Hononegah Community High School, 1989-1992, where he played football. Richie
graduated from South Beloit High School in 1993. He earned an undergraduate degree(AA degree) from Illinois State University in 1997.
Richie passed away suddenly on February 2, 2026, at the age of 50. He was living
in the Catskill Mountains in New York and was the manager of the Red Ranch Inn.
He died in a place he loved, a place that satisfied his adventurous spirit, where he
could hike and bike through the mountain trails.
“My dad was the greatest person I know,” his daughter Akkahllia Bennington said.
“He cared about everyone who was a part of his life. We lost a little bit of our
hearts when he died. He was Bayndn’s and my best friend.”
Richie was sports-crazy. He loved the Steelers and the Blackhawks. He loved
cooking, camping, and especially watching and playing hockey with Bayndn.
“Dad was a great cook. My brother and I always thought he would become a
professional chef,” Akkahillia said.
Richie is survived by his daughter Akkahillia and son Bayndn, his father John
Bennington, his brothers Ryan Bennington (Kendra), David Bennington
(Stephanie), and Brian Bennington, (Mary), his sister, Jamie Bennington-Markley,
his aunt, Sandra (Sandy) Ingram, (Tim), grandmother, Elsie (Laursen) Erickson, and multiple aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held in the late spring or early summer.
