Richard Tolton Bentley

Richard Tolton Bentley

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(1936 – 2022)

Richard “Dick” Tolton Bentley passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 21, 2022, from natural causes at age 86.

Dick was born February 4, 1936, in St. George, Utah, to parents Ronald Wayne and Melissa Irene (Tolton) Bentley. He was the oldest of six children.

He attended school in California, and graduated from Whittier High School. He then attended Brigham Young University where he met his first wife, Sharron Brian. With only one year left of college, Dick served an LDS mission in Preston, England. After his return from his mission, Sharron and Dick were married in the Salt Lake Temple, and he moved his new bride to Los Angeles, California. He finished his university studies at USC while working for the JCPenney department store. They would have six children, five of whom were lovingly and gratefully adopted. Dick and Sharron had a marriage that was a great example of an eternal partnership that would last 40 years.

After the passing of Sharron, Dick met and married Arda Lou Serena Ririe. They were sealed in the Jordan River Temple. Serena brought four children into the marriage, and Dick loved them as much as his own. Their marriage lasted nearly ten years when Serena passed away.

Dick was briefly married to Karen Smith. He then married Jodee Steffensen, and they eloped and were sealed in the St. George temple eight years ago, and she has been the light of his life. She brought two children to the family; for Dick, the more the merrier. His children are eternally grateful for all she has done to care for Dick and to help him enjoy the remaining years he had on this earth.

Dick was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many callings, including Sunday school teacher, Gospel Doctrine teacher, counselor in the bishopric, and four stints as a bishop. He was a veteran of the United States Army, he was a hard worker, and he was dedicated to his family, but above all he was dedicated to the Lord and the Gospel. He loved BYU nearly as much.

He was preceded in death by wives Sharron Brian Bentley and Arda Lou Serena Ririe Bentley, brother-in-law Ernest Jacklin, and his daughter Mary Beth Bentley McKelvy Miller, and his granddaughter Moneika Bethrene McKelvy. He is survived by his wife, Jodee Steffensen Bentley; his brother and sisters: Carolyn Jacklin, Afton (Steve) Baxter, Jenee (Gail) Uzelac, Steve (Kris) Bentley, and Sherrie (Scott) Deppe; children: Brian (Becky) Bentley, Michelle (David) Gonsalves, Garry (Tammy) Bentley, Melissa (Carl) Mathis, David (Alyssa) Bentley; stepchildren: Joe (Deanne) Ririe, John Ririe, Julia (Robert) Hudson, Rebecca Higgins Wann, Anthony (Amelia) Radosevich, and Jonathan (Kathleen) Radosevich; 53 grandchildren with one on the way, 63 great grandchildren with two on the way, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held Monday, May 23, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Union Fort Stake Center 540 E. 7155 S. in Midvale. Funeral services will be held at the same location on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 10:00 am. Family and friends may call upon the family at Tuesday morning viewing from 8:30 am to 9:30 am. Interment will follow at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery at 3115 E. 7800 S. (Bengal Blvd), Cottonwood Heights.

Please visit the obituary at www.memorialutah.com to view a livestream of the funeral service.