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 WaKeeney, 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.
Celebration of Life Service will be at 2:00 PM Thursday at United
Methodist Church with Rev Berniece Ludlum officiating. The service will
also be available for viewing via Facebook Live from the Garnand
Funeral Homes Facebook Page. 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