Cathy Benton

M. Cathy Carley Benton, 70, passed away peacefully at the boathouse surrounded by family on Wednesday October 11th, 2017. She was born and raised in Milwaukee where her family owned and operated GA Carley Advertising, spending all of her summers on Big Crawling Stone Lake in Lac du Flambeau. She moved to Wausau where she raised her family. She actively participated in the Jaycette Organization, Rib Mountain Ski Club, ran the ski school at the Rib Mountain Ski Hill, now Granite Peak, and had numerous other jobs. In the late 80’s, Cathy moved to Lake Tomahawk where she opened and ran The Front Porch Bait and Tackle Shop for a few years. Later, she and her husband Chip Mullineux, were involved in the ski and hospitality industries here in the Northwoods and the Upper Peninsula including White Cap Mountains, Ski Brule, Pine Mountain, and Fence Lake Lodge. Lac du Flambeau is the place Cathy called home. She loved her boathouse and everything about it including the constant entertaining that was loved by friends and family and laying in the sun on her deck. She enjoyed planting and taking care of her flowers every summer, boating and watching those close to her enjoy lake activities. Later she found enjoyment at the Manitowish Waters and Lac du Flambeau Chamber of Commerce’s, Governor’s Board of Tourism and the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. Cathy was a very outgoing social person and was a friend to everyone. She was very generous and had a heart of gold. Her passion was cooking and baking, and she would always provide food for everyone. She loved her family, and enjoyed family outings including ski trips. She loved to entertain, and would often host Christmas parties and summer picnics at her home in Lac du Flambeau. Her favorite pastime in her later years was sitting on her deck overlooking the lake with her dog, Annie, by her side. She and Chip spent a great deal of time at Indianhead with friends enjoying her lifelong love of ski hills. Cathy had a very strong love of the beach and took annual trips to the Florida Keys with Chip. They also loved to take train trips out west to Montana. Cathy will be forever loved and missed by her husband Chip Mullineux, children Joel Benton (Minneapolis, MN) and Claire Benton, Sam Simkin and grandchild Lydia Simkin (Boulder, CO) and all friends who knew her. Cathy was preceded in death by George and Kathy Carley (parents), Mark Benton, Todd and Elizabeth Benton (children). Cathy had a smile that always made you feel welcome. She will forever be loved and missed by all who knew her. A small family gathering took place in celebration as the family plans a lakeside gathering next summer on the shores of Big Crawling Stone Lake. The family would appreciate memorials to Heart of Wisconsin Epilepsy Foundation.

Cathy Benton

October 11, 2017