Eleanor R. Bentson - Winona

WINONA — Eleanor Ruth Bentson (nee Merwin), 90, formerly of Rochester and Winona, died Oct. 10, 2010, at Sauer Memorial Home, Winona.

Eleanor Ruth was born March 14, 1920, to Clarence and Nettie (Hare) Merwin in La Crosse, Wis. She graduated from Winona High School in 1938. She attended and graduated from Roger and Roger Beauty School in Minneapolis. Ruth, as she liked to be called, married Arnold B. Bentson on Jan. 24, 1942.

She is survived by four sons, Gerold (Sally) Bentson of Minnieska, Robert (Jean) Bentson of Rochester, Leon Bentson of Monument, Colo., and Clayton (Gale) Bentson of Altura; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother and one sister.

Services to remember Ruth will be 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15, 2010, at Central Lutheran Church, Winona, with Rev. Jeff Franko officiating. Interment will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens, Rochester.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. at Central Lutheran Church on Friday, Oct. 15, 2010.

Casket bearers will be grandsons Dave Bentson, Derek Bentson, Jeff Bentson, Matt Bentson, Steve Bentson, Mike Bentson and Adam Bentson. Honorary casket bearers will be granddaughters Kathy Bentson, Missy Bentson and Aimee Ortlieb.

Services entrusted to Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home, Winona. Words of sympathy and remembrance may be left at www.fawcett-junkerfuneralhome.com .