Virginia Bentley

Our dear mother, (Virginia) Sue Johnson Bentley, passed away quietly on the morning of October 30, 2021, at the age of 87. She had been in declining health for some time. While we will miss her terribly, we are grateful that she is at last pain-free and at peace.
Mom was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas on May 10, 1934, and lived there on a small farm with her parents, John Johnson and Ada Tyler Johnson, siblings, and nearby extended family, through high school. She was an excellent student—valedictorian at Maynard High, spelling bee winner, and cheerleader. One of our favorite stories that she told was how her father would sometimes join her when she was reading outside, and she would spend time teaching him to read.
After her father died and after graduating from high school, she moved with her mother to Michigan, where she met Curtis Vail Bentley, the man she would soon marry and spend the next 64 years of her life with. They married in the Salt Lake Temple and lived for four years in Provo, Utah, while Curt attended BYU. The first three of their six children were born during their time in Provo. She learned to keep a household going on no money, many potatoes, and a lot of love. They then moved frequently for the next few years—one child born in Montana—before settling down in Utah, where the remaining two children were born.
Sue found her life’s calling as a wife and mother. We would sometimes get frustrated with her—get a job, mom! find a hobby! get out and see the world! But her favorite thing to do was just to be at home with family. So, she made lunches in brown paper bags every school day for all six of her children. She patched the knees of our pants and let out the hems of our skirts. She played a mean center on our family football team. We could count on hot beef stew on Primary nights and amazing fried chicken every Saturday—a recipe that none of us have been able to duplicate. She was fierce as a player of card games and as a defender of her children. She frequently said, as she got older, that she would give anything to be able to go back to those times with a houseful of kids. She loved us unconditionally until the very end.
She is survived by her husband, Curtis, who has been genuinely heroic in caring for her for many years; her children: Deann Bentley Stanley (David), Sherry Bentley Lindhardt (Don), Curtis Wade Bentley, Bradford Scott Bentley, Darin Jay Bentley (Teree), and Tamara Bentley Morris (Curt); 26 grandchildren, and 37 great-grandchildren. We wish to thank the many caregivers, the staff at Cottage Glen, and Darin and Teree for taking them in as tenants. Sue was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, holding many callings, and doing her best to keep the rest of us on the straight and narrow.
We hope you know how much we love you and appreciate all you have done for us, mom.
A viewing will be held Tuesday, November 2, 2021, from 6-8 p.m. at Tate Mortuary, 110 South Main Street in Tooele. And a graveside service on Wednesday November 3, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Valley View Memorial Park 4391 West 4100 South, West Valley, 84120.