Richard LaVer Bentley

1953 ~ 2019

Richard Bentley was the kind of man who wanted everyone to feel heard and loved. He showed that attention to others with his loving eyes and a constant smile. He bestowed his greatest love and attention to his wife, ten children, parents, siblings, grandchildren, and in-laws, but all who met him were greeted with kindness. He spent his days loving the Lord, his country, and his family.

He was born to LaVer and Eva Bentley on January 24, 1953 in Logan, Utah. He is the oldest of 12 children. He was a diligent and hard worker as he completed chores around the house and their mini farm. 

Richard served a two-year mission to Seoul, Korea in 1972. He loved the culture and serving the people. The Koreans had much respect for him because of his serious demeanor. While on his mission he wrote his mother that he didn’t want her to stop having children because coming from a large family brought him so much happiness, which was a foreshadowing of his large family.

He attended the University of Utah but finished his degree at Brigham Young University. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree as an electrical engineer. His work as an engineer was excellent.

He met his sweetheart, Nancy, in Orem at her home in 1976. Richard’s brother Steven was engaged to Nancy’s cousin, Debbie Blackburn. Steven and Richard stopped by to say hello to Nancy’s family. A year and four months after they met, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. They have been together for 41 happy years.  

Through the years he loved teaching his ten children and his twenty-two grandchildren the gospel and the history of America. He was an excellent teacher and enjoyed conversing about all topics.  

He loved hiking, the constitution, country, classical and rock music, dancing, drawing/painting, camping with his sons, and science-fiction shows/stories.

He enjoyed serving as a Scout Leader, Stake Missionary, as well as the Gospel Doctrine and Gospel Essentials teacher. 

Six months ago he suffered a leg injury and things got progressively worse from there. In September the doctors found out he also had a rare cancerous tumor in the same leg. After many months of ups and downs Richard lost his battle to cancer on October 26, 2019.

He is preceded in death by his Grandparents: Richard Ivins Bentley & Amelia Walser, David Anthony Richardson & Elaine Earl, his father LaVer Walser Bentley, and nieces: Vanessa Bentley and Leah Bartlett.

He is survived by his mother Eva Bentley, his siblings: Steven (Debbie), Arthur (Ruth), Elaine (Craig), Ruth, Julia (Micheal), Anthony (Debbie), Jane (Paul), Anita (Kipp), Thomas (Christine), Robert (Jeanette), Rebecca (Nate), his wife Nancy Bentley, and children; Heather (Curtis) Walker, Todd (Adrianne) Bentley, Heidi (Brian) Mecham, Natalie (Clint) Nelson, Shanae (Chris) Martinez, Jacob, Jason, Tyler, Bryson, & Branton, as well as his grandchildren.

Richard was the best of men, a faithful follower of Christ, and beloved by all who knew him.