MiSun Benedict, 40

MiSun Benedict, 40, of Boise, died June 20, 2006.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. today, Wednesday, June 28, at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

MiSun was born on July 15, 1965, at #357 Kumsan-ri, Nakan-myon, Sungju-kun Republic of South Korea.

She attended grade school and junior high in Korea. Her life in the working world began at the age of sixteen, in a shirt factory as a seamstress. She rapidly progressed to doing inspections of the stitching in the collars of the high quality shirts.

MiSun and Bill Benedict met just over a month of her turning eighteen. They dated and spend a lot of time eating noodles and enjoying Korean style fried chicken with kimchee, her family noted. "They had a wonderful time together" and were married on May 31, 1984.

MiSun remained in Korea until all the paperwork could be cleared through the United States immigration process. She finally arrived in the United States in February 1985, rejoining her husband in Atlanta, Ga., where Bill was stationed at nearby Warner Robbins AFB. They lived there until the end of July.

While in Georgia, MiSun found the Macon Korean Church, where she became a member. She also attended English classes weekly at another church. Her religion became very important to her, her family noted. "She learned rapidly as she always had a quest for knowledge." MiSun and Bill then moved to just outside of Marsing, Idaho. When arriving in Idaho, MiSun worked hard to get a home established, and on Dec. 27, 1985, she gave birth to a baby girl, named Heidi, after MiSun's favorite story.

MiSun became a member of the First Idaho Korean Baptist Church and attended services as often as possible. "MiSun always made friends wherever she went," her family said, "and seldom if ever, had a bad word to say about anyone.

"She worked for Michael's of Oregon for about two years and proved what a great commercial seamstress she was. During this time, she became a true and faithful servant of her heavenly father and made every attempt to draw others to church as well."

In early 1998, she moved to Mountain Home and worked for Burger King at Mountain Home Air Force Base, becoming a lead and then being selected to become a manager. She went to the AAFES Burger King Managers Training in Dallas, Texas, and finished at the top of her class. She spent several months working at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and then FE Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyo., as an assistant manager.

"While at each place, she would quickly find a Korean Church so she could pursue her faith in God," her family said.

MiSun was honored by the San Antonio Korean Presbyterian Church with a room that they were able to finish early because of her generous donation.

After a year in Cheyenne, she didn't want to remain in the fast food business and returned to Mountain Home.

Shortly after arriving, MiSun started working for Micron in Boise. After about five years, with Micron, she felt that her true calling was to be a missionary. She gave up her family and moved to Tulsa, Okla., where she completed training and went on a short mission to Scotland. Upon her return to Tulsa, there were no other assignments, but she assisted a divorcee to care for her two young girls.

After about a year and a half, it was MiSun's desire to be closer to her own daughter, so she returned to Boise and once again worked for Micron.

MiSun had obtained her US citizenship about two years after arriving in the U.S. and was extremely proud to be a citizen. "She was a fantastic lady and will be missed by everyone who knew her," her family said.

MiSun is survived by: her daughter, Heidi and numerous brothers and sisters in Korea.

She was preceded in death by both parents and one brother.