1928
Bernita
2012
Bernita Bentley
April 19, 1928 — June 12, 2012
Bernita Mabel Bentley
Age 84
Of Battle Creek
Bernita M. Bentley, 84, left for the home her Savior Jesus Christ promised to prepare for her June 12 after a brief stay at the Lifespan Good Samaritan Hospice Residence in Battle Creek. Bernita was born on April 19, 1928, in Columbiaville, MI, the daughter of John and Ida (McCoy) Bentley. She lived in the Cheboygan county area from 1929 until 1944, Flint area from 1945 to 1946, Chicago from 1949 to 1955, Cromwell, CT, from 1955 to 1965, Athens, MI from 1965 to 1968, the VFW Home in Eaton Rapids from 1968 to 1980, Lansing and Eaton Rapids (with elders she cared for) from 1980 to 1985, She lived at Riverview Apartments in Eaton Rapids from 1985 to 2010 and at the Village at Mill Creek apartments in Battle Creek from March until August of 2011, then moved to The Oaks and enjoyed 8 months with her sister, Ardis Dosh.
After finishing high school in Chicago, she attended the Moody Bible Institute for four years graduating in 1955. Bernita was employed at Cromwell Children’s Home as a counselor from 1955 to 1965, then with the VFW Children’s Home, as houseparent of the relief cottage and scheduler from 1968 to 1980. After that, she provided in-home elder care in Lansing and Eaton Rapids from 1980 to her retirement in 1985. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Eaton Rapids and then attended South Side Bible Church in Battle Creek. She was a Girl Scout leader from 1967 to 1970 and participated in Ladies Bible study 1998 to 2008. She enjoyed sewing, reading, watching auto racing and baseball on TV, loved the outdoors, camping, bird watching, Bible study and visiting family.
Surviving are brother and sisters, Ardis Dosh of Battle Creek, Virginia (Garnet) Plume of Millersburg, MI, Curtis (Sue) Bentley of West Valley City, Utah, and Norma Winter of Mesa, AZ; sister-in-law, Edna (Maurice) Bentley of Midland, MI; over 100 nieces and nephews, including local family, Richard, Rebecca, & Austin Dosh of East Leroy, MI and Shawn & Kristine O'Keefe of Athens, MI. Gary & Lynn Mitchell of Eaton Rapids, MI & Wilma Bailey of Eaton Rapids, MI were also generous caregivers in Bernita’s life. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her brothers, John, Maurice and Vance Bentley.
Funeral will held at 11am Friday, June 15 at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home with Pastor Michael R. Brown of South Side Bible Church officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service. Interment will be at Arcadia Twp. Cemetery in Lum, Michigan at 3:30pm. Memorials may be made to the VFW Children’s Home. www.henryfuneralhome.org
Age 84
Of Battle Creek
Bernita M. Bentley, 84, left for the home her Savior Jesus Christ promised to prepare for her June 12 after a brief stay at the Lifespan Good Samaritan Hospice Residence in Battle Creek. Bernita was born on April 19, 1928, in Columbiaville, MI, the daughter of John and Ida (McCoy) Bentley. She lived in the Cheboygan county area from 1929 until 1944, Flint area from 1945 to 1946, Chicago from 1949 to 1955, Cromwell, CT, from 1955 to 1965, Athens, MI from 1965 to 1968, the VFW Home in Eaton Rapids from 1968 to 1980, Lansing and Eaton Rapids (with elders she cared for) from 1980 to 1985, She lived at Riverview Apartments in Eaton Rapids from 1985 to 2010 and at the Village at Mill Creek apartments in Battle Creek from March until August of 2011, then moved to The Oaks and enjoyed 8 months with her sister, Ardis Dosh.
After finishing high school in Chicago, she attended the Moody Bible Institute for four years graduating in 1955. Bernita was employed at Cromwell Children’s Home as a counselor from 1955 to 1965, then with the VFW Children’s Home, as houseparent of the relief cottage and scheduler from 1968 to 1980. After that, she provided in-home elder care in Lansing and Eaton Rapids from 1980 to her retirement in 1985. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Eaton Rapids and then attended South Side Bible Church in Battle Creek. She was a Girl Scout leader from 1967 to 1970 and participated in Ladies Bible study 1998 to 2008. She enjoyed sewing, reading, watching auto racing and baseball on TV, loved the outdoors, camping, bird watching, Bible study and visiting family.
Surviving are brother and sisters, Ardis Dosh of Battle Creek, Virginia (Garnet) Plume of Millersburg, MI, Curtis (Sue) Bentley of West Valley City, Utah, and Norma Winter of Mesa, AZ; sister-in-law, Edna (Maurice) Bentley of Midland, MI; over 100 nieces and nephews, including local family, Richard, Rebecca, & Austin Dosh of East Leroy, MI and Shawn & Kristine O'Keefe of Athens, MI. Gary & Lynn Mitchell of Eaton Rapids, MI & Wilma Bailey of Eaton Rapids, MI were also generous caregivers in Bernita’s life. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her brothers, John, Maurice and Vance Bentley.
Funeral will held at 11am Friday, June 15 at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home with Pastor Michael R. Brown of South Side Bible Church officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service. Interment will be at Arcadia Twp. Cemetery in Lum, Michigan at 3:30pm. Memorials may be made to the VFW Children’s Home. www.henryfuneralhome.org
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