SANDY BENTLEY
The first time I met Sandy Bentley I was greeted at her front door by a long dark haired gypsy looking witch woman with a southern accent. Needless to say she didn’t introduce herself as Sandy. Talk about theatrics, she convinced all of us that we had been transformed deep into the south while she hypnotically lead us along into her lair of Halloween trickery. Sandy Bentley truly was our favorite drama queen. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with such a fun creative person? Luckily I became one.
I will never forget a camping trip we took with the Bentleys. As most of you know I love the outdoors, but sleeping in a tent isn’t quite my cup of tea in enjoying the great outdoors and I’m sure Sandy felt the same way. However finding ourselves early in our careers without much money we vacationed by tent. One such outing was shared with the Bentleys over the 4th of July. It has always been understood living in the northwest you head east over the 4th of July if you want to soak up the sun. Naturally we headed to Sun Lakes. It sounded like a perfect place coming from gray and soggy Seattle so off we went gong ho with kids in tow as well as our boats. It was a picture perfect day until evening came and a great wind and dust storm came up and blew our tents over. I will never forget laughing so hard was we were trying to hang onto the tents while our husbands rapidly tried to secure the stakes back in place so we could keep our shelters in place, let alone the kids safe. I think that may have been my last camping trip…..
We all have milestones in our lives that are fun and rewarding and Sandy made my 40th birthday just that. She was the toast and host of the party. She had a song for everything and she wrote one for me turning 40. I have a copy of this and it will always bring a smile to my heart when I think back on that evening and remember the star who stole the show.
The Bentleys were the Ken and Barbie of the ward with good looks and four beautiful children. Sandy was not only beautiful on the outside but beautiful on the inside as she invested time in developing her children’s talents and sharing her talents within the community. She told me last year that she had been committed to a mental hospital where she felt people had conspired against her because of her belief in her Mormon faith. She knew then that she had to stand up and show that she believed in Christ because she could not deny her faith so she started singing ‘Amazing Grace’ in the foyer and had the entire hospital chiming in as they sang along. Can’t you just see her? It was an experience she said she would never forget. Nor will I. I could just see my friend stand and defend her faith with the God given talent she had been blessed with.
“Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies?” Sandy Bentley is what I think of when I think of that scripture. She made us laugh and her influence will be felt in the years to come. Her memory for good will never be forgotten for ‘many daughters have done virtuously, but thou (Sandy), excellest them all.” Proverbs 31: 10 & 29.
You’ll always be my friend, Love you!
Sheila Fischer
.JPG)
