Alice Bentley

Tuesday, January 21, 2020 3:46 pm

Alice was born to Archie and Ruby (Nelson) Klegseth April 14, 1947, in Minneapolis, Minn. Alice grew up with three younger brothers, Phil, Joe and Junior.

While attending high school Alice met the love of her life, Merlin Gary Bentley her “Cookie”, on a blind date. She then graduated from Spring Grove High school and made wedding invitations the same week she was mailing graduation invitations.
They wed June 26, 1965, on a rainy Saturday at Waterloo Ridge rural Spring Grove. She always said rain was a good luck charm; it must have been because they were happily married for 55 years and were never apart from each other.
On March 3, 1968, they brought their first son into the world, Larry William Bentley, Alice’s pride and joy. A few years later they were given their first daughter, Rebecca Ann Bentley, June 21, 1970, but she went to live with Jesus 48 hours after her birth. Then on a beautiful summer morning, July 16, 1971, they were given the gift of a second daughter, Lori Anne Bentley (Matter), Merlin’s little girl and Alice’s best friend. The years passed but eventually they were blessed with another boy, Merlin James Bentley JR, Aug. 23, 1975, Alice’s little boy.

In May of 1970 they bought the Pine Ridge Farm in Bluffton. There they made their home, raising sheep, watching their children grow, and always having faith in each other. In the year of 2012 their dream became a Century Farm.

Alice’s first jobs were a mom and wife; to her they were the only ones that mattered. In the early ‘90s Alice got her CNA certification, later her CMA certification and began work at Aase Haugen Home where she worked until retirement. She was a member of the Burr Oak Lutheran Church in Burr Oak, where she was president for the WELCA and made many of the banners that have hung at Burr Oak Lutheran Church over the years.

Alice was a simple woman, all she needed was her husband, her family and God.
She never put herself first, always caring for those around her. She was a stubborn woman, she knew what she wanted out of this life and she got all of it and more. Her pride was in her grandchildren, Erik Bentley Matter, Anna Elise Matter and Leif William Matter. Alice spent most of her years of retirement watching her grandkids grow, teaching them and loving them more than any other human could imagine.

In her spare time she quilted, put together puzzles with Merlin, and continued her intense research into the family genealogy. Along with saving many lambs over the years, and being the best shepherd anyone could ask for. She enjoyed farming with Merlin; when harvest season would come around you would never find her in the house, she was always with him in the field, the barn, or cutting wood.

Alice was always a step ahead of her family, she always knew when one of them was in trouble. When Merlin was trucking she would know if something was wrong before he could even call her. She trusted in God to care and watch over her family; which He did.

She was the kind of woman that was a “once in a lifetime,” someone who left an impact on everyone she touched. She was the glue that held her family together. The kind of woman no one ever forgets.

Alice passed away quietly without pain on a snowy Wednesday evening, Jan. 15, 2020, at 4:39 p.m. at the Winneshiek Medical Center at the age of 72. Her last words to her husband were “I love you.”

Alice is survived by her husband, Merlin; children; Larry William Bentley (Dena Bentley), Lori Anne Matter (Lance Matter), Merlin James Bentley JR (Sydney Schroeder), grandchildren; Erik Bentley Matter, Anna Elise Matter (Savon Love) and Leif William Matter, brothers; Phil (Marlys) Klegseth, Joe (Lisa) Klegseth, Junior (Kristen) Klegseth, nieces and nephews; Charles (Sandra) Klegseth, Chad (Ashley) Klegseth, Michelle (Scott) Klegseth Zahn, Nick (Mary) Klegseth, five great-nieces and nephews and many cousins.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Archie and Ruby Klegseth and a daughter, Rebecca Ann Bentley.