Benigna Batts Buch

Benigna "Bennie" Buch, age 95, of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2025. A devoted wife for fifty-seven years, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Bennie lived a long and remarkable life marked by love, faith, and perseverance.

Born on a farm near Armstrong Springs, Arkansas, to Henry Payne Batts and Margaret Gerbert Batts as the third of eight children, Bennie grew up with a deep sense of family and resilience that carried her through life. Life was not easy early on. Her home had no electricity or indoor plumbing. She helped raise her younger siblings after her father passed away when she was only ten years of age. Growing up on a farm, Bennie was accustomed to hard work. Cotton was often the crop of choice in this part of Arkansas, and Bennie picked lots of it to help make ends meet on the family farm. The cotton bag was large and heavy, and like her siblings, she did what was necessary to support the family.

Despite her humble beginnings, Bennie went on to become a Registered Nurse.

She studied at St. Vincent's Hospital in Little Rock, AR, and continued her education at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, as an OR nurse. She continued her nursing career in Atlanta, Georgia, where she and her late husband, Kenneth Buch Sr. (1926-2014), made their home and raised their four sons: William Buch, Kenneth Buch Jr., Joseph Buch, and Paul Buch. Her passions were caring for family, her Catholic faith, cooking, fishing and gardening. She was also an avid card player, and losing was not common for her.

In 1994, Bennie and Kenneth retired to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, where she spent the past thirty-one years surrounded by natural beauty and the warmth of her community. Known for her adventurous spirit and competitive drive, Bennie was an elite fisherman, winning countless tournaments-often as the only woman in the competition. Her go-to lure was the wacky worm, or dead ringer. It worked for her, and she always caught something. She was as comfortable on the water with a rod and reel as she was at home caring for her family. She was also very active at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Donating time to deliver meals to shut-ins and participating in their multi-year prayer vigil, always ready to sign up for the late-night vigil times if needed.

Bennie's greatest joy was her family and she cherished family get-togethers.

Spoiling everyone with remarkable meals, constant snacks and treats and lovingly attending to everyone. She loved to give and was selfless in all aspects of her life. She is survived by her four sons; eight grandchildren-Kristen, Meghan, and Jennifer of South Carolina; Sarah and David of West Virginia; and Stephen, Nicholas, and Tessa of North Dakota; as well as her three great-grandchildren-Aidan, Abigail and Charlotte of South Carolina. She is also survived by her youngest sibling, Veronica "Ronnie" Adams, of Hot Springs, AR. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Sr., her older twin siblings, Jeanette and Geneva, and younger siblings, Elizabeth, Robert, Francis, and William.

Bennie will be remembered for her generosity, sharp wit, and the boundless love she poured into her family. Her legacy lives on in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who will carry her stories and spirit forward for generations to come.

A celebration of Bennie's life will be held on October 24th at 11am at Sacred Heart Church in Hot Springs Village, where family and friends will gather to honor her memory.