Mary E. (Wilhelm) Bentley

Mary E. (Wilhelm) Bentley

Cedar Rapids

Mary E. (Wilhelm) Bentley, 97, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died January 11, 2024. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m., Thursday, January 18, 2024, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Visitation: 4 - 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 17, 2024, with a Rosary Service at 6 p.m. at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home, 520 Wilson Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, visitation will continue a half hour prior to service time at the church on Thursday. Interment will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Mary Eleanor (Wilhelm) Bentley, born April 7th, 1926, in Waucoma, Iowa, to Joseph and Catherine (Wichman) Wilhelm. Born and raised on the family farm she remembered surviving the great depression, the fun barn dances and always working hard even at a young age. Her first job was at Midland Company in Decorah managing a crew of women and sewing veins for ships for the Navy until after D-Day when the plant closed.

Mary and Ted's first date was at a barn dance at the family farm. Her life was never the same after that. They were united in marriage on November 4th, 1946, and they were blessed with 52 years together. They lived in Cedar Rapids for a while then moved up North to farm until times got hard, and then they moved back to Cedar Rapids.

Once they moved back to town, Mary not only was busy raising five children but also worked many various jobs throughout her life. Her job at Van Buren School was the most rewarding for her. There she met Gladys Waltham who encouraged her, along with the encouragement of her husband, to take classes at Iowa State in food management and cooking. She earned her certificate, something she was very proud of. She retired as the kitchen manager after 27 years of service. After retiring she demoed for Anderson Erickson for a short time.

Mary enjoyed her flower and vegetable gardens which she was still maintaining well into her 80's. She loved sharing the fruits of her labor with neighbors, family, and friends. You never left her home hungry. She loved her family trips to Nevis, MN, in the summer, staying in the big cabin on the lake.

Mary volunteered at St. Ludmila’s Kolache Festival and Bingo. She prepared meals in the summer for the underprivileged kids at St. Wenceslaus and St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

Mary is survived by three sons: Daniel (Pat), Ronald (Debbie) & Darrell (Shelli), all of Cedar Rapids; daughter: Margie Buresh (Wes) of Ely; twelve grandchildren: Jill St. John (Shane), Tracy Alberts (Corey), Christine Doerning (Paul), Kevin Bentley (Marcy), Amy Jo Heater (Scott), Chad Bentley (Jen), Ryan Bentley (Brigid Reuter), Stacey Mueggenberg (Chad), Jason Buresh (Tracy), Bryan Giblin, Sarah Eicher (Andy), Kyle Bentley (Janelle); and 25 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister: Virginia Homewood (Ray, deceased), LaGrange, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband and her parents; daughter: Shirley Giblin (Dennis); five sisters: Florence Blong (Phil), Betty Troxel (Ed), Alma Baum (Leo), Adeline Sobolik (Arnold) and Dorothy as a child; two brothers: Art Wilhelm (Sadie) and Charles Wilhelm; granddaughter: Nichole Bentley; and great-granddaughter: Autumn Buresh.

The family wishes to thank Linn Manor Care where Mary lived the last years of her life. The caring staff not only treated her with dignity and respect, they became very dear friends to her.

Memorial donations may be directed to St. Ludmila’s Building Fund.

Please share a memory of Mary at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.