Bernice Bentsen, 91, of Great Falls, died Wednesday at Peace Hospice of Montana after suffering a severe fall.
Her funeral service is 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Plentywood Lutheran Church with interment following in Plentywood Memorial Cemetery. Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge of arrangements.
Bernice was born Nov. 11, 1920, the second of seven children of Sophie and William Leader. She grew up on a farm near Archer and completed grade school there. With no transportation available, she waited two years before starting high school in Redstone when her Uncle Ole Flakne decided to provide bus service for his two daughters and Bernice. After graduating valedictorian of her class in 1941, she moved to Plentywood where she worked for local bank owners and for Ole Wang, a major rancher in the area. She then worked at the Sheridan County Courthouse and in Scobey in various farm-related offices, including the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and the Farmers Home Administration.
In 1947, she married Otto Bentsen and they made their home in Plentywood until purchasing Otto's parents' farm near Two Tree School, southeast of Redstone, where they farmed and ranched. In 1966, they rented the Lloyd Bolster farm and lived there for 10 years while farming and ranching both locales. When Bolsters sold their farm, Bernice and Otto sold their cattle and moved to Plentywood. In January 2012, Bernice and Otto moved into assisted living at Highgate Senior Living in Great Falls.
Bernice was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church at Wanso where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and participated in many other church activities. She was an accomplished seamstress, making many of her own clothes. In later years, even with diminished eyesight, she enjoyed quilt-making for Lutheran World Relief efforts. She was active in Garden Club and was well known for her beautiful roses.
Following their retirement from farming, she and Otto enjoyed bowling, square dancing, and round dancing. Bernice had an infectious smile and a contagious laugh. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Bernice is survived by her husband, Otto, of Great Falls; three children, Larry (Susan) Bentsen of Great Falls, Steve Bentsen of Temple, Texas, and Lola (Steve) Raska of Great Falls; and two grandchildren, Wilson Raska and Carly Raska. She is also survived by her brother, Leonard (Margaret) Leader of Malta, and her sister, Selma Bedwell of Aberdeen, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Fred Leader and Harold Leader; and sisters Esther (Alvin) Martin and Agnes (Gerald) Wilson.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to help find a cure for age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer's.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
Published in Great Falls Tribune on September 30, 2012
Her funeral service is 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Plentywood Lutheran Church with interment following in Plentywood Memorial Cemetery. Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge of arrangements.
Bernice was born Nov. 11, 1920, the second of seven children of Sophie and William Leader. She grew up on a farm near Archer and completed grade school there. With no transportation available, she waited two years before starting high school in Redstone when her Uncle Ole Flakne decided to provide bus service for his two daughters and Bernice. After graduating valedictorian of her class in 1941, she moved to Plentywood where she worked for local bank owners and for Ole Wang, a major rancher in the area. She then worked at the Sheridan County Courthouse and in Scobey in various farm-related offices, including the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and the Farmers Home Administration.
In 1947, she married Otto Bentsen and they made their home in Plentywood until purchasing Otto's parents' farm near Two Tree School, southeast of Redstone, where they farmed and ranched. In 1966, they rented the Lloyd Bolster farm and lived there for 10 years while farming and ranching both locales. When Bolsters sold their farm, Bernice and Otto sold their cattle and moved to Plentywood. In January 2012, Bernice and Otto moved into assisted living at Highgate Senior Living in Great Falls.
Bernice was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church at Wanso where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and participated in many other church activities. She was an accomplished seamstress, making many of her own clothes. In later years, even with diminished eyesight, she enjoyed quilt-making for Lutheran World Relief efforts. She was active in Garden Club and was well known for her beautiful roses.
Following their retirement from farming, she and Otto enjoyed bowling, square dancing, and round dancing. Bernice had an infectious smile and a contagious laugh. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Bernice is survived by her husband, Otto, of Great Falls; three children, Larry (Susan) Bentsen of Great Falls, Steve Bentsen of Temple, Texas, and Lola (Steve) Raska of Great Falls; and two grandchildren, Wilson Raska and Carly Raska. She is also survived by her brother, Leonard (Margaret) Leader of Malta, and her sister, Selma Bedwell of Aberdeen, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Fred Leader and Harold Leader; and sisters Esther (Alvin) Martin and Agnes (Gerald) Wilson.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to help find a cure for age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer's.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
Published in Great Falls Tribune on September 30, 2012
Bernice Bentsen, 91, of Great Falls, died Wednesday at Peace Hospice of Montana after suffering a severe fall.
Her funeral service is 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Plentywood Lutheran Church with interment following in Plentywood Memorial Cemetery. Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge of arrangements.
Bernice was born Nov. 11, 1920, the second of seven children of Sophie and William Leader. She grew up on a farm near Archer and completed grade school there. With no transportation available, she waited two years before starting high school in Redstone when her Uncle Ole Flakne decided to provide bus service for his two daughters and Bernice. After graduating valedictorian of her class in 1941, she moved to Plentywood where she worked for local bank owners and for Ole Wang, a major rancher in the area. She then worked at the Sheridan County Courthouse and in Scobey in various farm-related offices, including the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and the Farmers Home Administration.
In 1947, she married Otto Bentsen and they made their home in Plentywood until purchasing Otto's parents' farm near Two Tree School, southeast of Redstone, where they farmed and ranched. In 1966, they rented the Lloyd Bolster farm and lived there for 10 years while farming and ranching both locales. When Bolsters sold their farm, Bernice and Otto sold their cattle and moved to Plentywood. In January 2012, Bernice and Otto moved into assisted living at Highgate Senior Living in Great Falls.
Bernice was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church at Wanso where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and participated in many other church activities. She was an accomplished seamstress, making many of her own clothes. In later years, even with diminished eyesight, she enjoyed quilt-making for Lutheran World Relief efforts. She was active in Garden Club and was well known for her beautiful roses.
Following their retirement from farming, she and Otto enjoyed bowling, square dancing, and round dancing. Bernice had an infectious smile and a contagious laugh. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Bernice is survived by her husband, Otto, of Great Falls; three children, Larry (Susan) Bentsen of Great Falls, Steve Bentsen of Temple, Texas, and Lola (Steve) Raska of Great Falls; and two grandchildren, Wilson Raska and Carly Raska. She is also survived by her brother, Leonard (Margaret) Leader of Malta, and her sister, Selma Bedwell of Aberdeen, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Fred Leader and Harold Leader; and sisters Esther (Alvin) Martin and Agnes (Gerald) Wilson.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to help find a cure for age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer's.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
Published in Great Falls Tribune on September 30, 2012
Her funeral service is 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Plentywood Lutheran Church with interment following in Plentywood Memorial Cemetery. Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge of arrangements.
Bernice was born Nov. 11, 1920, the second of seven children of Sophie and William Leader. She grew up on a farm near Archer and completed grade school there. With no transportation available, she waited two years before starting high school in Redstone when her Uncle Ole Flakne decided to provide bus service for his two daughters and Bernice. After graduating valedictorian of her class in 1941, she moved to Plentywood where she worked for local bank owners and for Ole Wang, a major rancher in the area. She then worked at the Sheridan County Courthouse and in Scobey in various farm-related offices, including the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and the Farmers Home Administration.
In 1947, she married Otto Bentsen and they made their home in Plentywood until purchasing Otto's parents' farm near Two Tree School, southeast of Redstone, where they farmed and ranched. In 1966, they rented the Lloyd Bolster farm and lived there for 10 years while farming and ranching both locales. When Bolsters sold their farm, Bernice and Otto sold their cattle and moved to Plentywood. In January 2012, Bernice and Otto moved into assisted living at Highgate Senior Living in Great Falls.
Bernice was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church at Wanso where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and participated in many other church activities. She was an accomplished seamstress, making many of her own clothes. In later years, even with diminished eyesight, she enjoyed quilt-making for Lutheran World Relief efforts. She was active in Garden Club and was well known for her beautiful roses.
Following their retirement from farming, she and Otto enjoyed bowling, square dancing, and round dancing. Bernice had an infectious smile and a contagious laugh. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Bernice is survived by her husband, Otto, of Great Falls; three children, Larry (Susan) Bentsen of Great Falls, Steve Bentsen of Temple, Texas, and Lola (Steve) Raska of Great Falls; and two grandchildren, Wilson Raska and Carly Raska. She is also survived by her brother, Leonard (Margaret) Leader of Malta, and her sister, Selma Bedwell of Aberdeen, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Fred Leader and Harold Leader; and sisters Esther (Alvin) Martin and Agnes (Gerald) Wilson.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to help find a cure for age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer's.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
Published in Great Falls Tribune on September 30, 2012
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