J. Grant Bentley, 87, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, surrounded by his loving family at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin.

J. Grant was born on July 31, 1932, to Paul J. Bentley and Audrey (Smith) Bentley in Albion, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Cass County High School in Logansport, Indiana, and then served his country in the U.S. Navy from February 1952 through February 1956. In 1961, he graduated from Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana, with his B.A. in sociology.  J. Grant also studied at Indiana University while working on his Masters Degree. On June 27, 1964, J. Grant married Myrtle Esther Wehlan in Chicago, Illinois. They were blessed with two children, Esthermay (Mark) Goossen and Davidjay (Nita) Bentley. J. Grant’s entire career was spent with the Social Security Administration, serving as the manager at the Social Security Office in Austin upon retirement. After retiring in 1987, J. Grant worked in several Christian bookstores, including Larry Nemitz in Austin, Warner Press in Anderson and Northwestern Bookstore in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was always active in church life and always a member of a local church. J. Grant served congregations as both pastor and assistant pastor in Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota, including Bethlehem Free Methodist of Austin and Calvary Lutheran Church of London, Minnesota. He was also active as a member of the Christian Businessmen’s Club, Kiwanis and Toastmasters. J. Grant kept busy volunteering with prison visitation and church activities, including teaching Sunday school. J. Grant very much enjoyed studying the Bible and reading Christian books. He was also an enthusiastic follower of political news… an avid FoxNews viewer! He enjoyed shopping with his wife, especially garage sales and Goodwill. Above all, J. Grant loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, teaching and sharing his love for Christ and the importance of a life dedicated to Him.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Myrtle; daughter, Esthermay (Mark) Goossen; son, Davidjay (Nita) Bentley; brothers, Paul (Kathy) Bentley and Daniel Bentley; sister, Elvira (John) Green; and grandchildren, Jacob Bentley, Caleb (Katy) Bentley, Jordan (Samantha) Bentley, Eliana Bentley, Sharon Goossen, Timothy Goossen, Alisa Goossen, Selah Goossen and Shepard Goossen. J. Grant was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Audrey Bentley; and sister, MaryFrances Smith.

“I have often said I do not want a funeral. I want a celebration. I will have gained the prize. I will have attained a greater life. I will have at last found life in all its fullness and abundance.” – J. Grant Bentley

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019, at the Worlein Funeral Home Chapel in Austin with military rites by American Legion Post 91 and VFW Post 1216. Interment was in Grandview Cemetery in Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Calvary Lutheran Church to support missions.