Karson Blake Kentch, 16, of Benton City, passed away on May 26, 2025, surrounded by love at Seattle Children's Hospital after a courageous 3.5-year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Karson was born on May 16, 2009 in Richland, Washington to Blake and Tara Kentch. He was a proud big brother to sister, Kalirae Marie Kentch. Karson was an avid outdoorsman. At the young age of 7 he mastered Hunters Ed, and from that age on he proudly helped fill his families freezer each fall. His love for the outdoors didn't stop there, Karson enjoyed 3D archery shoots, camping, riding mules in the mountains, fishing many rivers and lakes throughout Washington State. Riding his dirt bike with his best friend Chase, his sister and cousin Wes was a regular occurrence. He was involved in 4-H, showing at the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo starting at a young age with rabbits and chickens and moving into market hogs. His beloved dog Goose was by his side while swimming and catching tadpoles behind the house, riding bikes or retrieving birds on their hunts.

At the age of 12, on January 26, 2022 Karson was diagnosed with AML but it never changed his love for life. He made the best of everyday with a positive attitude. May 13, 2022 his sister, Kalirae gave him "The Gift of Life" by being his bone marrow donor. At the age of 13, while in the PICU at Seattle Children's Hospital he completed his boaters class online, receiving his boaters license. Karson was able to fulfill goals of a bull elk hunt in 2022, a special mule deer and antelope hunt, through the Muley Fanatic Foundation in Wyoming 2023.

After Karson relapsed on April 4, 2024, he spent the following months inpatient. He used his time entertaining the nurses, doctors and staff by fishing with a $5 bill in the hallways, having caught over 70 people with his mischief. He was often seen roping a stuffed calf, roping the nurses or teaching them how to rope. Karson was known for practicing his duck calls, racing the nurses on the trikes around the hallways of the unit and randomly placing fake cockroaches to scare the nurses and staff. At the age of 15 Karson was enrolled in Drivers Ed online while inpatient at SCH, finishing his last online class the day of his second Bone Marrow Transplant, July 10, 2024. While outpatient he spent his days driving around Seattle to the different lakes he loved to fish. Any chance he could get to drown a worm he did. For Karson's 16th Birthday, Seattle Children's Hospital made a special accommodation for his dog Goose to come visit and stay the night which was very special to him.

Karson loved to put a smile on people's faces and received great pleasure out of getting a rise out of someone with his shenanigans. He lived life full throttle and he had an impact on everyone who met him.

Karson was a student at Calvary Christian School from 1st Grade -10th Grade. He grew up attending church and participated in kids church/youth at Reata Springs Baptist Church.

He is survived by his Parents Blake and Tara, Sister Kalirae, Best Friend, Chase Reynolds, Grandparents Jeff and Debi Daniels/ Roger and Debbie Kentch, Great Grandparents Dale and Judy Daniels/ Linda Tinker, Uncle Jason Daniels (Ashley), Aunts Brittney Farnsworth (Shayne) and Cheyenne Prow (Jake), Cousins Gus and Branch Daniels, Wes Kentch, Peytyn and Paige Pratt, Anthony, Killian, Parker and Sailor Prow. Many Great Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and Friends. He was preceded in death by Great Grandparents William and Marilyn Kentch/ Clif and Betty LaHue.

Karson's Celebration of Life will be at Calvary Chapel Tri-Cities in Kennewick on

July 26, 2025 at 12pm, with a reception and food to follow.

Special thanks to the Nurses, Doctors and Staff at Seattle Children's Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to one of the following in Karson's name.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Western Washington & Alaska by visiting rmhcseattle.org

or Seattle Children's Hospital by visiting give.seattlechildrens.org. Under the "in memory of" section you can include Karson's name.

We encourage you to direct your funds to the programs that were a large part of Karson's care while at Seattle Children's. Please select "other areas of support" under the program designation section and write in one of the options below.

Child Life Technology Support (Gaming)

Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research Fund (Dr. Todd Cooper and Dr. Ann Dahlberg)

High Risk Leukemia Clinical Trials Fund (Dr Todd Cooper)