May 9, 1950-Nov. 19, 2022
Dennis Bentley passed away on Nov. 19, 2022, at the age of 72, at his home in Hurricane, Utah, of complications following a massive stroke he suffered in 2021. Dennis was born on May 9, 1950, in Compton, California, to Evelyn June Webb and Lester Robert Bentley.
He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years Mary Bentley; four adult children Heather Navarro, Jeffrey Bentley, Joseph Bentley and Hilary Leiper, all from an earlier marriage with the children’s mother Beth Cunningham; as well as a sister Debra (Bentley) Scafani, a stepbrother Richard and a half brother Michael Goguen.
Dennis was preceded in death by his mother Evelyn June Webb in 2005, his birth father Lester Robert Bentley in 2016 and his beloved stepfather Alfred J. Goguen in April 2022.
Dennis’ parents unfortunately separated and divorced very early in Dennis’ life. He and his younger sister Debra lived with their mother Evelyn for several years without a father and husband in the early 1950s, which was hard for all of them. Evelyn worked hard, sacrificed and struggled until she met her second husband, Dennis’ and Debra’s beloved “Dad” Alfred Goguen, also divorced with a child, and they were married after a few short years.
By that time, the two families had bonded, and Dennis grew up in a combined family home with his mom and his sister, a new stepfather, a new older stepbrother Richard Goguen and eventually a younger half-brother Mike. This became Dennis’ family for the rest of his life, a loving nucleus that remained connected and close.
Dennis worked for many years in food manufacturing and retail work, but his true passion was for art.
Dennis was a talented and accomplished artist. He made art for his entire life, creating unique, detailed and personal representations of the people and things that inspired his imagination, in pen and ink, colored pencils and acrylic paints, as well as detailed wood-carved, lovingly painted recreations of Native American and Early American objects. He loved movies, especially westerns and classic horror movies, and his portraits of Clint Eastwood and Boris Karloff are particularly memorable. His depictions of animal life were expressive and detailed.
Dennis was proud of his younger half-brother Mike Goguen who, inspired by Dennis’ drawings, and encouraged by Dennis’ example and support, practiced drawing from a very young age, and eventually made a career in animated television series as an artist and director. Mike and Dennis remained close over the years, and Dennis always supported and encouraged his little brother. They had shared a room for a few years as kids, and their connection remained important and strong to the end.
In recent years, Dennis had retired and had spent most of his time at home, continuing to create artwork until his declining health made it too difficult for him. His death came only six months after the death of his stepfather Alfred Goguen and 17 years after the death of his beloved mother Evelyn. He had remained close with his parents to the end of their lives, and there is no doubt that their deaths were very difficult for Dennis, and quite possibly hastened his own, as he wished so fervently to join them at the end of his life.
Dennis is now reunited with his beloved parents, as he wished. The family misses him, and will always miss his humor, his love and his beautiful artwork. We are thankful that he left so much of himself through his art and will protect and cherish his memory and his work forever.
Condolences may be shared on the McMillan Mortuary website.