Eminent Homemaker
County: Day
Ida Marie Bentley, Midland, a native of Day County moved with her parents to northern Haakon County at the age of 11. In 1916 she married Thomas O. Bentley and settled on the farm where she still lives today.
Even with the task of raising a family of 10 children she found time to be active in community and civic affairs.
A very active member of the Deep Creek Lutheran Church she served as secretary of the church women’s group at the age of 16; helped organize and prepare countless bazaars and church suppers; has held all offices in the organization and still serves as treasurer.
A township clerk since 1953 she also served on the local school board for many years before that and continues to handle the responsibility of treasurer of the Grandfield School district.
In about 1940 Bentley became a member of the Treasure Hunters Extension Club. After holding all offices she will assume the vice presidency this year. She was chairman of the Haakon County Extension Club organization in 1964.
Following World War II, this gold star mother became active in the American Legion Auxiliary of Midland. She is now president of that organization and serves as chaplain in the Midland chapter of Eastern Star which she joined in 1947. She was Worthy Matron in 1963. Over the years there was still time to help conduct fund drives for Red Cross and the Cancer Society in her community.
Four out of the ten children in the Bentley family attended college. Orville, the oldest, is now dean of Agriculture at the University of Illinois; Curtis farms the home place; Evan and Kenneth are both deceased; Richard is the owner and manager of a Conoco station in Rapid City; Gladys (Merlyn Pugh), is a homemaker and part-time stenographer at Pierre; Dorothy (Douglas Nelson), is a homemaker in Minnetonka, Minnesota; Alice (Donald Gambrel), is a homemaker in Fargo, North Dakota; Norma (Ron Arnston), is a homemaker at Mitchell; and Susie, (Allen Nelson) is a homemaker at Huron. Bentley has 26 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.