Rebecca S Hennigan

Mrs. Rebecca “Becky” Elliot Stout Hennigan, age 86, passed away on August 18, 2025 at Bradford House Nursing Home in Bentonville, AR. Becky was born on May 16, 1939 in Mercer County, Matoaka, West Virginia, an adopted daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elden Stout and Margaret Ruth Fritzius Stout of Parkersburg, WV and Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania respectively.

Becky didn’t know her birth family until her late seventies due to a closed adoption, but as an adult experiencing health problems she sought them out. After decades of searching, she did a DNA test through Ancestry.com and found a matched relative with whom she was able to connect and confirm the circumstances surrounding her birth along with names, photos of family resemblance, and history she desired to know and have closure to a mystery.

Becky was very thankful for the family she was able to be raised by and grateful for all she received in her lifetime. Her adopted father Charles worked in geology with a petroleum engineering degree throughout Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. Her adopted mother Margaret was an artist and collector of antique wares. They lived a pleasant life on the East coast.

Becky graduated Class of 1957 from Bronxville High School, Bronxville, New York. She was a graduate of Colby Jr. College - New Hampshire and of Katherine Gibbs Business School in New York City, New York. After graduation, she traveled to Europe and even had the privilege of a private audience with Pope John XXIII (now Saint John XXIII) and set for the West Coast, as she always desired to see it. Upon arrival into San Francisco, she began working for various executive secretarial jobs.

A friend, Norris Nims, introduced her to Wayne Laemmle, who was smitten and later asked for her hand in marriage. Their first child, Robin, was born in 1964, and their son Scott in 1965, while living in San Francisco, California. In 1967 they moved to Alaska. They worked and lived in Anchorage (airline sales and management) and Mt. Alyeska Ski Resort as co-managers of the newly opened hotel and condominium complex The Nugget Inn. Wayne eventually left the Airlines to have more time with family, and they made a move to Ketchikan, AK. In 1975, while in Ketchikan, Becky and Wayne divorced and she remarried to Warren Hennigan, but maintained a close relationship and continued to reside in Ketchikan to help in the raising of the children until graduating from high school.

Becky loved God, being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and a friend to all she encountered. Visiting with her children and their families and Warren’s extended family.

Becky was preceded in death by her second husband of 42 years, Warren E. Hennigan and stepdaughter Toni Hennigan. Becky is survived by her daughter and son, Robin (Jeffrey) Laemmle Spencer of Sunset, South Carolina and Scott (Sherry) Laemmle of Bentonville, Arkansas; first husband Wayne H. Laemmle; her son’s first wife Sherry Pipoly Laemmle; three grandchildren Taunee Laemmle (Justin) Jones, Joshua Laemmle, and Stefanie Spencer; three step-grandchildren Jessica Graziani, Alex (Kaitlin) Graziani, and Ryan Graziani; and two great-grandchildren (Liam and Elayna Jones). She also leaves behind stepson David M. (Cinda) Hennigan; step-grandchildren Jason (Ashley) Hennigan and Jenny (Jeremy) Smith; step-great-grandchildren James, Alexandria, Maddie, Makayla; as well as a host of loving relatives and friends who will miss her.

We will miss you, Mom. For all the words of wisdom and teaching moments and caring words. For your loving embrace and kisses. You have shown us how to live life and how to be courageous during the hardships and struggles. For not letting the physical hardships slow you down, including your hip replacements, survivor of strokes and breast cancer, and losing the sight in your right eye. Her nickname “the gypsy” came about since she loved to travel by automobile and live in new places.

Becky and her husband Warren had the pleasure of living in Alaska, West Virginia, South Carolina, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, and Arkansas. She enjoyed southeast Alaska, the Arizona desert and Oregon ocean landscapes, which inspired much of her lifelong hobby of painting in multi-mediums ranging from oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastels, ink pen and ceramics. Many of her works were entered into a number of local art shows while living in Ketchikan, Alaska and Bandon, Oregon. A favorite pastime were her creative works she called “Doodle Quirks” done in ink pen. She loved to watch and learn from artist Bob Ross “The Joy of Painting” and many of her artist friends who also enjoyed creating artwork.

While in Arkansas she enjoyed going to the Crystal Bridges Museum and shopping at Walmart. In addition, learning the piano in her youth brought a lifetime of enjoyment to play the piano (Clare de Lune by Debussy, On a Clear Day and What a Wonderful World and many other classical pieces) for family up until she could no longer play in her last years leading up to her 86th birthday. These passions have carried over even today in her children’s creativity with music and photography in their own lives.

We are grateful for the care and service received in the time leading up to her passing by the Bradford House in Bentonville. Despite Mom being a bit spicy at times the staff and nurses still smiled and cared for her in-between family visits and phone conversations with long-time friends and activities at the Bradford House. Thank you! Also, Mercy Hospital, Morada and The Meadows Senior Living.

A family Celebration of Life will be held in Bentonville in the near future.