South Central Hangar

Obituary for Alan Frank Bently

Dr. Alan Frank Bentley, professor emeritus at MSU-Billings, was born on Oct. 9, 1932, in Bennington, Vt. Growing up in New England with an avid interest in aviation, he graduated top of his class from the University of Vermont in 1953. He married Patricia Eileen Manley on Sept. 7, 1952, in Brattleboro, Vt.

After graduation and a commission in the U.S. Army, he served two years active duty as an airborne ranger.

During his full and interesting life, he was a dairy farmer, optical engineer (once hand-delivering an infrared spectrometer, handcuffed to his arm, to NASA for the Skylab space station), astronomer, physics professor, and devoted and loving husband and father. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, airplane builder and pilot. He completed two airplane projects at the Laurel airport and was beginning a third in his basement at the time of his passing. Dr. Bentley was active in the Civil Air Patrol for many years, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was also an active member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Billings where he served as first reader as well as in many other capacities. He had strong ethics and loved home, family and church.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 50 years and six children; daughters, Laura Blatz of Maumee, Ohio, Rosanna Willis of Lexington, Ky., Brenda and husband Lakhi Goenka of Ann Arbor, Mich., Marcia Bentley of Laramie, Wyo.; sons, Matthew and wife Sandra Bentley of Rock River, Wyo., and Carl and wife Danelle Bentley of DuPont, Wash. He is also survived by his two sisters, Joyce and husband Don Keeler of North Monmouth, Maine, and Clara and husband Michael Filuta of Ballston Spa, N.Y.; 17 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by all his many friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Billings. Memorial service to take place at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 21, at the Blue Creek Baptist Church, Blue Creek Road, Billings.