Obituary: Dwayne Bents

Dwayne Herb Bents, 64, was born in Sibley, Iowa on July 7, 1948 to parents Herb and Frances (Venenga) Bents, the middle of five boys (George, Leo, Ken, & Burdell). He grew up on a farm south of Rushmore, doing chores, milking cows and learning to work hard. He attended country school just down the road from his home in Little Rock Township. He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1966. In November of that year he entered the Army and spent twenty weeks in Ft. Lewis, WA and six years in the National Guard. He graduated from the Meat Cutting Program at Pipestone Vocational School in 1969. He worked as a meat cutter at the Red Owl grocery store in Marshall, MN and later at Nick’s Clover Farm in Adrian, MN. He started working for Halletts on the Interstate 90 project and started his own construction company in 1975. He met his good friend Tom Murphy in 1976 while they were both working construction and together they formed Murphy-Bents Joint Venture in the early 1980’s. Dwayne continued building his business, known today as Dwayne and Colleen Bents Gravel, Inc., and hauled gravel, rock, and other material the rest of his life.

Dwayne married Colleen McGinty on June 12, 1982 in Adrian, MN. They made their home on an acreage south of Rushmore for thirty years. After eleven years of marriage Dwayne and Colleen were blessed with three daughters, Claire (19), Quinn (14) and Chloe (10). His girls were his greatest joy and Dwayne enjoyed spending every moment he could with them. He was a dedicated father and proud of their accomplishments.

Dwayne died on November 5, 2012 at the Sunset Hospice Cottage in Worthington, MN after a three year battle with metastatic colo-rectal cancer. Dwayne handled his diagnosis each day with a positive attitude, quiet determination, strength of character, and grace. He never once complained and was always thankful for the generous love, support, prayers, and blessing of family and friends who gave him the courage to face the challenges that came his way.

He will lovingly be remembered for his quick wit, ready smile, and kind and gentle nature.

Dwayne is survived by his wife, daughters, family and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2012, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Worthington, MN, with Father Jim Callahan officiating. Burial will be held in the Sunset Rest Cemetery near Rushmore, MN.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington.

In lieu of flowers, trinkets and token gifts, memorials may be directed to: Sunset Hospice Cottage, Inc., Historic Dayton House, or Worthington Area YMCA Capital Campaign.

Tags: dwayne bents, obituaries

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