Robert "Bob" Glen Bentley

ROBERT “BOB” GLEN BENTLEY, age 81 of Waseca, died on the morning of Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

Bob was born at home on his family’s farm near Mapleton on October 2, 1943, to parents Glen and Lucy (Fitzpatrick) Bentley. He attended District #91 country school in Wilton Township from 1949 until 1956, then Sacred Heart Catholic School in Waseca until 1959. He later graduated from the Southern Ag School in Waseca in 1961. He was then employed part-time at Bob Byron Implement in Waseca and Budach Implement in New Richland. Bob was drafted into the United States Army on May 14, 1965, at age 22. He went to Fort Leonard Wood, MO, then to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, and was later stationed at Kaiserslautern, Germany from 1965 until 1967. He served in the 7th Army, Company A, 66th Maintenance Battalion. He returned home in April 1967 following his honorable discharge.

Bob farmed his entire life despite a disability of post-polio syndrome and Guillain-Barré. He utilized a wheelchair for the last 15 years but still spent his time as a “mechanic for the neighborhood” and he painted tractors and was an ace welder. On August 28, 1971, Bob was united in marriage to Bethel Ebnet at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca.

Bob is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bethel Bentley; one sister, Mary Bentley of Somerset, WI and her son, Curtis McCall; and his brothers and sisters in law, LaVoy (Mary) Ebnet, Doris (John) Krause, Genelle (Bill) Hinchley, Bruce (Kaye) Ebnet, Gordon (Brenda) Ebnet, and Gary (Jana) Ebnet. He was preceded in death by both of his parents.

A private family memorial service will be officiated by Fr. Glenn Frerichs. Interment with Military Honors will take place at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Waseca.