Mildred E. Bentley, 101, died on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Lane County Hospital in Dighton. She was born on May 6, 1919 in Lane County the daughter of Daniel Newton & Nora Leatha (Doll) Thomas. She married Frank Sardella in March of 1946. She then married Wendell S. Bentley on August 14, 1953 at Dodge City. He died on January 16, 1989.
Mildred grew up on the family farm southeast of Dighton and attended Evergreen School District 31 grade school and graduated from Dighton High School in 1937. She graduated from Salt City Business School in Hutchinson. In 1942 she moved to Los Angeles to work at the Wilshire Western Bank of America during World War II. After her divorce she moved back to Dighton and worked at the First National Bank. After her marriage to Wendell they moved to the Bentley Ranch in Gove County known as Valhalla where they farmed and ranched. She was a member of the Shields United Methodist Church until it closed and she moved her membership to the United Methodist Church in Dighton and became involved in the Thrifty Korner.
She is survived by her Son- Daniel & Katherine Bentley of Lawrence, Daughter- Dee Ann & Tracy Wilkison of Dighton, Brother- Larry Thomas of Dighton, 2 Grandchildren- Austin & Michelle Wilkison of Burlington and Erica & Eric Hendrickson of Wakeeny, 8 Great- Grandchildren- Haley Jones, MiKayla Hess, Hunter Jones, Cecily Wilkison, Hector Wilkison, Savannah Wilkison, Brody Hendrickson & Macey Hendrickson. She is preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, 3 Brothers- Dean Thomas, Ward Thomas and Marion Thomas and 3 Sisters- Nila Dee Thomas, Margaret Ann Smith and Merlyn Dawn Coberly.
Graveside Service will be at 2:00 PM Thursday at Dighton Memorial Cemetery with Rev Berniece Ludlum officiating. There will be a Celebration Of Life service at a later date. Friends may call from Noon to 8:00 PM Wednesday and 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Thursday at Boomhower Funeral Home in Dighton. Memorials are suggested to Lane County Hospital or United Methodist Church in care of Boomhower Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com