Chris H. Bentz

1919 - 2002  (83 years)

• Name	Chris H. Bentz
  Born	19 Oct 1919	North Dakota, USA
  Gender	Male
  Died	28 Dec 2002	Montana, USA
  Buried	Y  [1, 2]
  Person ID	I327948	Suedpfalz
  Last Modified	25 Mar 2016

  
  

  Father	Johannes Bentz,   b. 16 Jun 1890, South Dakota, USA ,   d. 7 Jan 1967, Lodi, San Joaquin County, California, USA  (Age 76 years)
  Mother	Anna Schweigert,   b. 3 Jan 1894, Odessa, Ukrayina ,   d. 2 Sep 1980, Lodi, San Joaquin County, California, USA  (Age 86 years)
  Married	1913
  Family ID	F30135	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Dorothy Irene Mothka
  Married	5 Mar 1944	Montana, USA   [3]
  Children	1. Bentz
  Last Modified	1 May 2018
  Family ID	F110619	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S926] Find-A-Grave, (www.findagrave.com). Chris H "Gramps" Bentz Memorial Photos Flowers Edit Share Learn about sponsoring this memorial... Birth: Oct. 19, 1919 McIntosh County North Dakota, USA Death: Dec. 28, 2002 Billings Yellowstone County Montana, USA Family links: Parents: John Bentz (1890 - 1967) Anna Schweigert Sandau (1894 - 1980) Spouse: Dorothy Irene Mothka Bentz (1922 - 1999) Siblings: John Bentz (1915 - 1990)* Benjamin Bentz (1917 - 1998)* Chris H Bentz (1919 - 2002) Emanuel Bentz (1923 - 2012)* *Calculated relationship Burial: Sunset Memorial Gardens Billings Yellowstone County Montana, USA Created by: Ulo Randpalu Record added: Nov 11, 2015 Find A Grave Memorial# 154895138 [S927] Obituary. Chris H. Bentz Dec 28, 2002 0 Chris H. "Gramps" Bentz, 83, recently of Sage Tower, passed away at St. Vincent Healthcare on Saturday morning, Dec. 28, 2002. During this time of the year, many will remember him as the "Real Santa" at the Hart Albin Building and West Park Plaza. He entertained children coming to see him with many stories about the other Santa's being his elves and helpers, Mrs. Santa preparing the completion of the gifts and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus - the real meaning of Christmas. Chris was born Oct. 19, 1919, in MacIntosh County, N.D., a son of John and Anna Bentz. He attended high school in Ronan and served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946. In 1944, Chris married Dottie Mothka. He worked for the Mountain Tractor Co. in Missoula, selling farm machinery to area ranchers who also became his personal friends. He and Dottie moved to Billings in 1976 to be closer to the three grandchildren they loved so dearly. He worked for Plains Power and Equipment and Nash Brothers before retiring. His years of retirement brought many good years of volunteering as a HOST tutor in the school district. Chris loved reading with children and encouraging them to do their best. Chris was a past member and president of the Missoula Optimist Club and had truly lived a life of optimism. He was involved in Troop 10 of the Boy Scouts as an assistant scoutmaster, teaching the boys the importance of citizenship and established a fund raiser of selling wreaths that still exists today. Chris is survived by his daughter, Sandy Mehus and her husband Jerry of Billings; his three grandchildren, Chris and his wife Tami, Brenda Jo, and Brian and his wife Karyn; and his brother, Bene Bentz and his wife Joan. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of his love for family, God and country will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003, at First United Methodist Church. Private family interment will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials honoring Chris may be made to Boy Scouts, Troop 10, c/o Jerry Mehus, 1010 Burlington Ave., Billings, MT 59102. Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. [S638] Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1987, (www.ancestry.com). Name: Chris H. Bentz Gender: Male Age: 24 Birth Date: 1920 Marriage Date: 5 Mar 1944 Marriage Place: Missoula, Missoula, Montana, United States Father: John Bentz Mother: Anna Schweigert Spouse: Dorothy Mothka FHL Film Number: 1889004