Helen M Bentley

Helen M. Bentley

Helen M. Bentley, 91, formerly of Topeka, died Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at Colonial Manor in Lansing. She was born July 20, 1912, in Scranton, the daughter of Samuel G. and Agnes M. Andreen Carney. She was reared in the Scranton community. She graduated from the North American Defense School in Kansas City. She moved to Michigan in 1938, where she lived three years before moving to Kansas City. She moved to Topeka in 1946, following the end of World War II. Mrs. Bentley met her husband, Robert, while working as a "Rosey the Riveter" at North American Aviation building B-25 bombers. She was a member of Oakland Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years, where she served as a deacon and Sunday school teachers. She was a devoted wife and mother. She married Robert A. Bentley on May 11, 1945, in Topeka. He died April 20, 1993. Mrs. Bentley also was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Janice Kay Bentley, in 1949. Survivors include two sons, Robert G. Bentley, Wo odland Park, Colo., and William A. Bentley, Leavenworth; a sister, Florence Ball, Stanton, Neb.; eight grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Oakland Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Scranton Cemetery at Scranton. Mrs. Bentley will lie in state after 3 p.m. Friday at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel in North Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Oakland Presbyterian Church, 2810 N.E. Thomas, Topeka, 66616. Online condolences may be sent to www.penwellgabel.com .