Genevieve Bentley

Genevieve Bentley, age 96, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at Wellington Place in Decorah. 

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 29, 2021, at Big Canoe Lutheran Church, 1316 Big Canoe Rd. Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Waldemar Gies presiding.

Visitation will be Monday, November 29, 2021, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be given to the Big Canoe Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund.

Genevieve was born November 11, 1925, the oldest child of Edwin and Annie (Lien) Sylling in rural Spring Grove, Minn.  She remembers milking cows at an early age and growing up only speaking Norwegian.  She attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove, where she was baptized and confirmed.   Genevieve attended rural schools and graduated from Spring Grove High School.

Genevieve met Lester H. Bentley and they were married on June 7, 1944.  They were a great team farming their land near Highlandville, Iowa, on the farm where Lester was born and raised, until retiring in 2011.  Together they were stewards of the land, receiving soil conservation awards for outstanding accomplishment in soil and water conservation practices and beef herd management.  Genevieve and Lester worked side by side farming.  Genevieve also clerked many local auctions with her husband for B&B Auction Company.  She also worked in the office at Winneshiek (Equity) Sale Barn in Decorah, Iowa, for many years.

Genevieve was a member of Big Canoe Lutheran Church, rural Highlandville, Iowa, where she held many active roles with the Rebecca Circle and Ladies Aid. She loved her church family and enjoyed her time with them. Genevieve had a strong faith and loved others as God loved her.

Genevieve and Lester loved dancing to old time music, playing cards with friends, and visiting with family and friends.  Genevieve was the most caring person who would do anything for anyone and always had a smile that brightened their day.  She was a true friend to all who had the honor of knowing her and loving her.  Genevieve was a great caretaker, raising their four children. Her family was her most prized treasure and they brought her much joy.  She really was the salt of the earth.

Genevieve enjoyed her home at Wellington Place, taking part in the music activities and being a member of the Ding-A-Lings bell choir.  She was very loved and will be dearly missed by all. 

The family would like to thank the staff at Wellington Place for 10 years of loving care. 

She is survived by her children Roger and (Linda) Bentley, Roseville, Minn., Richard and (Donna) Bentley, Dayton, Minn., and Lois and (Gregory) Shattuck, New Hampton, Iowa;  daughters-in-law Susan Bentley, Lomita, Calif., and Barbara Bentley, Lawler, Iowa; grandchildren Christine and (Dave) Schlitt, Altamonte Springs, Fla., Michael and (Jill) Bentley, W. Des Moines, Iowa, Jordan and (Haley Bergman) Bentley, Carlsbad, Calif., Jennifer and (Steve) Quandt, Racine, Minn., Melissa Hamlin, Stewartville, Minn., Jeffrey and (Nikki) Bentley, Shoreview, Minn., Corey Bentley, Roseville, Minn., Neil (Alison) Bentley, Raleigh, N.C., Angela (Mark) Schwarze, Elk River, Minn., Bryan and (Heidi) Shattuck, Dennison, Minn, and Sara and (Tyler) Throndson, New Hampton, Iowa; 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, two sisters, Ethel Harkness, Central City, Iowa, and Doris Stalboerger, Champlin, Minn. 

Genevieve was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lester Bentley on November 13, 2011, and his parents, Henry and Irene Bentley, son Larry Bentley on November 21, 2015, a son in infancy, and brothers-in-law Merle Harkness and Chuck Stalboerger.