Gordon Bentley

April 28, 2021

On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, Russell Gordon Bentley, Jr., loving dad, grandpa and friend returned to his heavenly home at the age of 81. Gordon was born in Mesa, Arizona to Russell and Fern (Hoopes) Bentley. He graduated from Holbrook High School in 1957 and went on to receive his bachelors from Arizona State College in Forestry, and his Master’s degree at the University of Arizona in Range Management. He worked for the Bureau of Land Management for over 33 years. He married Armina Lepper on June 6, 1958 and they later divorced. Together they had five children, John, Gale, Susan, Diane and Karen. He worked for BLM in Utah, Washington DC, Colorado, California, Arizona and Oregon. During his time at the BLM he worked as a Water Shed Specialist. He studied botany and while hiking with his children could identify plants all along the trail. He married Janice Likes in November 1984, and they later divorced. Gordon adopted her two children Brian and Janean. They had one child together, David. Gordon was at home outdoors and enjoyed hiking, camping, hunting, and landscaping. He often owned a wood burning stove and he loved to cut and split wood. He always had an enormous wood pile. He loved country western music and square dancing. Some of his favorite singers were Hank Williams and Slim Whitman. He was very artistic and quite talented. He was known to draw little bunnies on children’s hands at church. He enjoyed painting and photography. He loved journaling and doing family history. He took joy in being in the temple and would travel hundreds of miles to attend. Time with his family was important to him. He adored his grandkids and loved spending time with them. He could often be found holding a baby. Gordon exemplified Christlike service. He was a faithful, dedicated home teacher, often traveling many miles to visit with his families. Gordon worked as a Special Education Teacher’s Assistant in Layton, UT from 2007-2015. He loved working with and serving the special needs children. He was also a service missionary for the Conference Center in Salt Lake City from 2014 to 2018. It was one of the highlights in his later years. He is preceded in death by his parents, Russ and Fern Bentley, his sister Carol Naegle, and his son-in-law Robert Goldie. He is survived by his siblings, Sheryl (Del) Terry, Janice (Marv) Turley and Chuck (Bev) Bentley. He is survived by his children John (Chiemi) Bentley, Gale Bentley, Susan (Paul) Mosley, Diane (Chad) Hofheins, Karen (Paul) Kucharek, Brian Bentley, Janean Sheley and David Bentley, 21 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren with 3 on the way. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, May 8, 2021, at 11:00 am at the Battle Creek 1st Ward Building, 1250 East 200 South, Pleasant Grove, Utah. (Social Distancing and masks required.) A link for live streaming will be available. Interment in Orem City Cemetery, Orem, Utah. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary