LAKELAND - Adeline Ella Bent, 94, died peacefully at her home on Monday, January 20, with members of her family by her side. Her death came from the complications of advancing age. She shared 72 1/2 years of holy matrimony with her husband, Roland Charles Bent, who preceded her in death in March 2010.
Born in her family home near Gillette, Wisconsin on September 2, 1919, to Hulda and Karl Behnke, she married Roland on November 24, 1937, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. At a time when steady work was rare and luxuries few, they started to build a life together.
She grew up on a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin with three brothers, three sisters with an additional family of two half-brothers and three half-sisters. Her young life revolved around play, work, swimming in the pond behind the farm house and attending her "little schoolhouse." School was a special pleasure to her with pleasant memories of the one-room schoolhouse lasting her entire life. At the age of fifteen, Adeline moved in with her Aunt and Uncle in Green Bay, Wisconsin to attend high school. She did housekeeping for various families to help with the expense of her education. The pride of maintaining a well kept home, whether someone else's or her own, was a life long virtue at which she excelled.
She met her life partner, Roland, at a dance and quickly accepted a dance and a ride on his motorcycle. Married life started in Green Bay but work took them to Manitowoc, Wisconsin where their only daughter was born in 1941. By the end of WWII their first son was born and they had opened their first motorcycle/bicycle shop. That business grew as did her family with the arrival of two more sons in the mid 1950s. Over the years all four children would become active in the family business.
By the late 1950s, relief from the cold winters of Wisconsin sent Adeline & Roland on a search for a warmer climate where they could relocate the family business. That search led them to Lakeland where they opened Bent's Bicycle Shop in 1961 on South Florida Avenue in "Dixieland." Over the intervening years the business thrived with many second and third generation customers purchasing bicycles as their parents had done for them. The family's bicycle tradition continues with middle son Steven now the proud owner of that family business.
While Mother Bent contributed to the success of the family business maintaining the books for many decades, her greatest passions were her family and her home. Sensible advice or a swift hand was given when and where needed. Her skills as a homemaker were unequaled. She always kept her home in immaculate order and looked forward to the arrival of family or friends and the many cookouts held on the back porch over the years. An excellent cook, each family member had their own favorite dish or dessert that she lovingly prepared and were delighted when they were "...on the menu." Some had more than one favorite.
As a seamstress Mother Bent excelled. From the earliest years until late in her life her entire family benefited from her skills. Special outfits for herself or her children to piles of "repairs" to some favorite article of clothing were undertaken willingly, even when the articles of clothing were virtually beyond repair. These skills were also dedicated to making quilts. While a few of her exquisite quilts were made for family members, many dozens of quilts were made for Lutheran World Relief.
The family will receive friends in a celebration of Adeline's life from 5 PM to 8 PM on Friday, January 24th at Lakeland Memorial Gardens, 2125 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL. Church services will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 4450 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, FL at 10 AM on Saturday, January 25th. Burial will follow at Lakeland Memorial Gardens followed by fellowship at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Condolences can be sent to 1058 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33803.
Born in her family home near Gillette, Wisconsin on September 2, 1919, to Hulda and Karl Behnke, she married Roland on November 24, 1937, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. At a time when steady work was rare and luxuries few, they started to build a life together.
She grew up on a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin with three brothers, three sisters with an additional family of two half-brothers and three half-sisters. Her young life revolved around play, work, swimming in the pond behind the farm house and attending her "little schoolhouse." School was a special pleasure to her with pleasant memories of the one-room schoolhouse lasting her entire life. At the age of fifteen, Adeline moved in with her Aunt and Uncle in Green Bay, Wisconsin to attend high school. She did housekeeping for various families to help with the expense of her education. The pride of maintaining a well kept home, whether someone else's or her own, was a life long virtue at which she excelled.
She met her life partner, Roland, at a dance and quickly accepted a dance and a ride on his motorcycle. Married life started in Green Bay but work took them to Manitowoc, Wisconsin where their only daughter was born in 1941. By the end of WWII their first son was born and they had opened their first motorcycle/bicycle shop. That business grew as did her family with the arrival of two more sons in the mid 1950s. Over the years all four children would become active in the family business.
By the late 1950s, relief from the cold winters of Wisconsin sent Adeline & Roland on a search for a warmer climate where they could relocate the family business. That search led them to Lakeland where they opened Bent's Bicycle Shop in 1961 on South Florida Avenue in "Dixieland." Over the intervening years the business thrived with many second and third generation customers purchasing bicycles as their parents had done for them. The family's bicycle tradition continues with middle son Steven now the proud owner of that family business.
While Mother Bent contributed to the success of the family business maintaining the books for many decades, her greatest passions were her family and her home. Sensible advice or a swift hand was given when and where needed. Her skills as a homemaker were unequaled. She always kept her home in immaculate order and looked forward to the arrival of family or friends and the many cookouts held on the back porch over the years. An excellent cook, each family member had their own favorite dish or dessert that she lovingly prepared and were delighted when they were "...on the menu." Some had more than one favorite.
As a seamstress Mother Bent excelled. From the earliest years until late in her life her entire family benefited from her skills. Special outfits for herself or her children to piles of "repairs" to some favorite article of clothing were undertaken willingly, even when the articles of clothing were virtually beyond repair. These skills were also dedicated to making quilts. While a few of her exquisite quilts were made for family members, many dozens of quilts were made for Lutheran World Relief.
The family will receive friends in a celebration of Adeline's life from 5 PM to 8 PM on Friday, January 24th at Lakeland Memorial Gardens, 2125 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL. Church services will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 4450 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, FL at 10 AM on Saturday, January 25th. Burial will follow at Lakeland Memorial Gardens followed by fellowship at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Condolences can be sent to 1058 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33803.
LAKELAND - Adeline Ella Bent, 94, died peacefully at her home on Monday, January 20, with members of her family by her side. Her death came from the complications of advancing age. She shared 72 1/2 years of holy matrimony with her husband, Roland Charles Bent, who preceded her in death in March 2010.
Born in her family home near Gillette, Wisconsin on September 2, 1919, to Hulda and Karl Behnke, she married Roland on November 24, 1937, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. At a time when steady work was rare and luxuries few, they started to build a life together.
She grew up on a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin with three brothers, three sisters with an additional family of two half-brothers and three half-sisters. Her young life revolved around play, work, swimming in the pond behind the farm house and attending her "little schoolhouse." School was a special pleasure to her with pleasant memories of the one-room schoolhouse lasting her entire life. At the age of fifteen, Adeline moved in with her Aunt and Uncle in Green Bay, Wisconsin to attend high school. She did housekeeping for various families to help with the expense of her education. The pride of maintaining a well kept home, whether someone else's or her own, was a life long virtue at which she excelled.
She met her life partner, Roland, at a dance and quickly accepted a dance and a ride on his motorcycle. Married life started in Green Bay but work took them to Manitowoc, Wisconsin where their only daughter was born in 1941. By the end of WWII their first son was born and they had opened their first motorcycle/bicycle shop. That business grew as did her family with the arrival of two more sons in the mid 1950s. Over the years all four children would become active in the family business.
By the late 1950s, relief from the cold winters of Wisconsin sent Adeline & Roland on a search for a warmer climate where they could relocate the family business. That search led them to Lakeland where they opened Bent's Bicycle Shop in 1961 on South Florida Avenue in "Dixieland." Over the intervening years the business thrived with many second and third generation customers purchasing bicycles as their parents had done for them. The family's bicycle tradition continues with middle son Steven now the proud owner of that family business.
While Mother Bent contributed to the success of the family business maintaining the books for many decades, her greatest passions were her family and her home. Sensible advice or a swift hand was given when and where needed. Her skills as a homemaker were unequaled. She always kept her home in immaculate order and looked forward to the arrival of family or friends and the many cookouts held on the back porch over the years. An excellent cook, each family member had their own favorite dish or dessert that she lovingly prepared and were delighted when they were "...on the menu." Some had more than one favorite.
As a seamstress Mother Bent excelled. From the earliest years until late in her life her entire family benefited from her skills. Special outfits for herself or her children to piles of "repairs" to some favorite article of clothing were undertaken willingly, even when the articles of clothing were virtually beyond repair. These skills were also dedicated to making quilts. While a few of her exquisite quilts were made for family members, many dozens of quilts were made for Lutheran World Relief.
The family will receive friends in a celebration of Adeline's life from 5 PM to 8 PM on Friday, January 24th at Lakeland Memorial Gardens, 2125 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL. Church services will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 4450 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, FL at 10 AM on Saturday, January 25th. Burial will follow at Lakeland Memorial Gardens followed by fellowship at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Condolences can be sent to 1058 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33803.
Born in her family home near Gillette, Wisconsin on September 2, 1919, to Hulda and Karl Behnke, she married Roland on November 24, 1937, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. At a time when steady work was rare and luxuries few, they started to build a life together.
She grew up on a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin with three brothers, three sisters with an additional family of two half-brothers and three half-sisters. Her young life revolved around play, work, swimming in the pond behind the farm house and attending her "little schoolhouse." School was a special pleasure to her with pleasant memories of the one-room schoolhouse lasting her entire life. At the age of fifteen, Adeline moved in with her Aunt and Uncle in Green Bay, Wisconsin to attend high school. She did housekeeping for various families to help with the expense of her education. The pride of maintaining a well kept home, whether someone else's or her own, was a life long virtue at which she excelled.
She met her life partner, Roland, at a dance and quickly accepted a dance and a ride on his motorcycle. Married life started in Green Bay but work took them to Manitowoc, Wisconsin where their only daughter was born in 1941. By the end of WWII their first son was born and they had opened their first motorcycle/bicycle shop. That business grew as did her family with the arrival of two more sons in the mid 1950s. Over the years all four children would become active in the family business.
By the late 1950s, relief from the cold winters of Wisconsin sent Adeline & Roland on a search for a warmer climate where they could relocate the family business. That search led them to Lakeland where they opened Bent's Bicycle Shop in 1961 on South Florida Avenue in "Dixieland." Over the intervening years the business thrived with many second and third generation customers purchasing bicycles as their parents had done for them. The family's bicycle tradition continues with middle son Steven now the proud owner of that family business.
While Mother Bent contributed to the success of the family business maintaining the books for many decades, her greatest passions were her family and her home. Sensible advice or a swift hand was given when and where needed. Her skills as a homemaker were unequaled. She always kept her home in immaculate order and looked forward to the arrival of family or friends and the many cookouts held on the back porch over the years. An excellent cook, each family member had their own favorite dish or dessert that she lovingly prepared and were delighted when they were "...on the menu." Some had more than one favorite.
As a seamstress Mother Bent excelled. From the earliest years until late in her life her entire family benefited from her skills. Special outfits for herself or her children to piles of "repairs" to some favorite article of clothing were undertaken willingly, even when the articles of clothing were virtually beyond repair. These skills were also dedicated to making quilts. While a few of her exquisite quilts were made for family members, many dozens of quilts were made for Lutheran World Relief.
The family will receive friends in a celebration of Adeline's life from 5 PM to 8 PM on Friday, January 24th at Lakeland Memorial Gardens, 2125 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL. Church services will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 4450 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, FL at 10 AM on Saturday, January 25th. Burial will follow at Lakeland Memorial Gardens followed by fellowship at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Condolences can be sent to 1058 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33803.
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