Dec. 20, 1949 – Jan. 11, 2008
Terry E. Bentley, 58, of Sweet Home died Jan. 11, 2008.
He was born Dec. 20, 1949 in Sweet Home at Langmack Hospital. He graduated from Sweet Home High School in 1967 and lived in Sweet Home his entire life. He married Gina on May 15, 1993.
Mr. Bentley started working at Foster Plywood, then went to Titus Trucking for a short time as a mechanic. He also worked as a mechanic at Sid Walter’s Repair, then went to May’s Arco in Sweet Home. He moved on to work for school District #55 as the transportation superintendent from 1980 to 1992. He also ran his own business, Bentley’s Automotive, for the past 30 years.
Mr. Bentley started drag racing in 1966. In 1972 he switched to late model dirt track racing, which he did throughout the Northwest for over 35 years. Racing was his passion. After his dirt track career ended, he retired back to drag racing part-time because he couldn’t get racing completely out of his system. The things the Bentleys enjoyed most in the last few years were spending time with their family camping at the coast and gambling at casinos.
Mr. Bentley is survived by his wife, Gina of Sweet Home; son, Anthony Bentley of Lebanon; stepson, Jason Tenbusch of Albany; stepdaughter, Jenna Parker of Albany; five grandchildren;, stepfather Hal Hennick of Sweet Home; brothers and sisters, Donald Bentley of Las Vegas; Patty Bentley of Lebanon; Carol Bagley of Lebanon; Vicky Johnson of Bend and Dean Bentley of Albany; four step-brothers and step-sisters, Diane Donald of Port Orchard, Wash.. Kevin Hennick of Bothell, Wash., Ron Hennick of Sweet Home, and Debi Christensen of Bothell, Wash..
Mr. Bentley was preceded in death by his mother, Laura Isabelle Hennick.
A funeral service was held Jan. 15 at Community Chapel in Sweet Home.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.