Kiyomi Suzuki Behnke

Kiyomi Suzuki Behnke

April 28, 1963 - June 06, 2017

Kiyomi Suzuki Behnke

April 28, 1963 - June 06, 2017

Obituary

Kiyomi Suzuki Behnke was born the 28th of April, 1963 in Tokyo, Japan. She was a good student and earned a degree in the English language while working as a travel agent in Japan until deciding in 1986 to study for a Pilot’s License which was attained in Bakersfield, California. While working towards her Instrument and commercial license she met her husband, Kurt whom was working at the flight School, they later moved to Santa Maria, California for his career while she continued to build flight hours. They moved to Florida and back to Fresno, California in 1989 where Kiyomi became a Flight Attendant for United Express with Embraer, BAE, Shorts and other aircrafts until 1991 when she joined Delta Airlines in the Japanese Speaker program based in LAX. Kiyomi loved to fly; she flew with the L-1011, DC-10, MD-11, her favorite aircraft was the 757 and was rated on all of Delta’s domestic and international fleet aircraft, her primary line was LAX to Narita, Japan, and flew to other USA and Europe destinations. She was as friendly and nice a person you could ever meet, she put everyone else before herself, she loved dearly and genuinely the associates she flew with, which was evident at any time, next to family, it was her happiest of times; even in times of crisis, conflict and wars, she flew; Desert Storm, Terrorist events and during 9-11-01 her crew was in the air flying delayed overseas during the crisis; Kiyomi always represented Delta in a truly nice and professional manner. Her friends and acquaintances are global, with so much to say, tears have not stopped. While flying for Delta, due to her husband’s career, they moved to Arizona where their daughter, (Kiyomi’s “BFF”) Sierra, was born in Phoenix in 1999. Kiyomi also maintained a position as President of KBC and Associates, LLC; with her family they lived on 4 continents and visited at least 40 countries, in each country they lived in, Kiyomi would assist the local community with events and home staff/company staff, providing one on one training in English and daily communication-processes with multi-cultural understanding, while Kiyomi herself was learning the local tribe language and the language of the colonialists accepted by the host nation. Kiyomi provided understanding, warmth with positive motivating discipline when needed, and provided 100% English formal school access and other needs for her staff, her door is always open to all, which again shows she is truly loved globally. After fighting a cancer battle of 19 months, on the 6th of June, 2017, Kiyomi passed away calmly and peacefully with her husband holding her and the love of family nearest to her heart. She will be missed.

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11 responses to Kiyomi Suzuki Behnke

  1. kurt says:

    It is too difficult… Hugs always.

  2. kurt says:

    I miss you more each day. hugs. XO.

  3. Kurt Behnke says:

    Each day is not easy, the pain is always, time does not diminish it. We miss you. You are the love of my life. Life has been difficult. Heaven should be nice, the current government is not good and a struggle day to day. Being with our daughter is good.
    Hugs, xo..

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