Reta Bentley

Reta M. Bentley of St. Ignace formerly owned and operated Bentley's Restaurant of St. Ignace with her husband, Ralph. Because education was important to her, she was a 20-year member of the St. Ignace Area Schools Board of Education, and former treasurer of the board for 16 of those years. She served as a Cub Scout leader, and was an active Toys for Tots volunteer.

Mrs. Bentley was 85 when she died unexpectedly Saturday, May 5, 2007, at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey.

She was born November 20, 1921, in Grand Rapids. Following graduation from high school, she married Ralph K. Bentley in Fife Lake August 2, 1941.

During the 1940s the couple moved to St. Ignace, where they operated Bentley's Restaurant for several years. Mrs. Bentley assisted with the restaurant during its early years, while caring for the family's five children. Her family was most important to her, friends recalled.

Mrs. Bentley was a former member of the St. Ignace Women's Guild, and she helped at Touch of Craft in St. Ignace for several years.

Mrs. Bentley is survived by two sons and their families, Richard and Jean Bentley of St. Ignace, Michael Bentley of Valdez, Alaska; three daughters and their families, Paula and Pat Garries of Gros Cap, Pam Bentley of Grand Rapids, and Penny and Duane Kaminsky of Sparta; a brother, Harold Cannon of Arizona; a sister, Eleanor Cannon of Grand Rapids; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, January 3, 1991, her parents, Clayton and Helen (nee Johnson) Cannon, and a brother, Norman Cannon, who died in 1998.

Friends can call at Dodson Funeral Home in St. Ignace Wednesday, May 9, from noon to 2 p.m. Services will follow at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Pastor Tari Stage-Harvey and Pastor Wayne Foote will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Duane Kaminsky, Pat Garries, Randy Weemhoff, Harvey Bentley, David Koivuniemi, and Andy Kaminsky.

Burial will be in Gros Cap Cemetery in Moran Township.

Memorial donations can be made to the American Paralyzed Veterans, and envelopes will be available at the funeral home.