Genelle D. Bentley

Genelle Doris Skolness Bentley, 77, of Lake Park, MN passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2013, at Kindred Hospital in Fargo, ND. Genelle was born September 8, 1935 in Moorhead, MN to Art and Doris Gilbery Skolness. She graduated as Valedictorian from Glyndon High School in 1953. She married Richard Bentley of Dilworth, MN in 1954 and had three sons. She was a lifelong member of the Scandia Lutheran Church, Averill, MN and was involved in many of their activities while living in the Glyndon area.

Genelle previously lived in Alamogordo, NM and Lompoc, CA, as an Air Force wife and mother. In Glyndon and Staples, MN, she enjoyed farming with her family, gardening and raising registered Black Angus and Simmental cattle. She also served with the Minnesota Cattlemen’s and Cattlewomen’s Associations. She worked for the Northwest Educational Cooperative Service Unit in Staples, MN as an Administrative Assistant for many years. After moving to the lakes area, she worked with Lutheran Social Services of Detroit Lakes, MN until she retired.

Genelle’s passion for learning and gardening led to her serving as a Master Gardener for twenty years in Becker County, where she was known as “The Vegetable Lady”. She enjoyed sharing her knowledge at clinics and judging vegetables and plants at local fairs. Along with other Master Gardeners, she helped plant native plants and flowers around the area, including on her property at Lake Bijou. Her love of research and history guided her to becoming a member of the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County. This assisted her in adding to the written history of Glyndon and Averill Schools. She also added to the histories of the Charles Gilbery family, the Ole S. Bentley family and her paternal grandparent’s families, Ole A. Skolness and Charlotte Andreasen. Among her many accomplishments, Genelle was an excellent seamstress, quilter and embroiderer, an avid reader as well as a great cook and baker. Her greatest joy was spending time with family, especially her sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Genelle is survived by three sons; Scott of Moorhead, MN, Lonny of Lake Park, MN and Terry of St. Louis Park, MN, two sisters, Phyllis Wahl, Greenbush, MN, and Ginger Jacob Smith, Butler, IN; brother, Dan Sandy Skolness, Detroit Lakes, MN; six grandchildren; Jason Jessica Bentley of Dilworth, MN, Ross Tami Bentley of Moorhead, MN, Melissa Jacob Nelson of Dilworth, MN, Ariel Bentley of Seoul, South Korea, Miles and Maxwell Bentley of St. Louis Park, MN and five great-grandchildren; Alissa, William, Cameryn Bentley of Dilworth, MN, Caden Nelson of Dilworth, MN and Autumn Bentley of Moorhead, MN.

Genelle was preceded in death by her parents, brother Joel Skolness, grandparents Ole and Charlotte Skolness, Charles and Edith Gilbery and former husband Richard Bentley.

Visitation: Wed., April 3, from 5-7 p.m. in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead.
Funeral: Thurs., April 4, at 11 a.m. in Wright Funeral Home, 605 2nd Ave S, Moorhead, MN.
Interment: At a later date at Concordia Lutheran Church Cemetery, Glyndon, MN.
Officiating will be Pastor Don McCullagh of Scandia Lutheran Church, Averill, MN.

Genelle’s family wishes to thank all who helped enrich and fulfill her life, God bless you all. Preferred memorials are to the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery Fund. Thank you.