Bente, Frank 1876 - 1958

BENTE, KRESS, MILLER, ARCHER, MEESE, ENGLERT, HESNER, SCHEER, HAMILTON, PERRY, JENSEN, PFALTZGRAFF, WILKE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 5/9/2025 at 13:03:20

Clayton County Register, 20 Mar. 1958.

Frank Bente, a lifelong resident of Clayton county, was born on a farm in Cox Creek township on February 17, 1876, a son of William Bente and his wife, Margaret, nee Kress.

Mr. Bente died at his home in Elkader on March 14, 1958, at the age of 82 years and 27 days.

He was a member of a large family, eleven of whom grew to adulthood. Three older brothers, Henry, Louis and George, and two younger brothers, Michael and William, preceded him in death. Also two sisters, Mrs. Ida Miller and Mrs. Mary Archer are deceased. Three sisters, Mrs. Anna Meese, Mrs. Katherine Englert and Mrs. Elizabeth Hesner survive.

Frank Bente was baptized by the Rev. F. W. Seifert of Clayton Center, was confirmed by the Rev. C. H. Franke of Elkader, and has been a lifelong church member. He served on the church board of the Evangelical and Reformed church for fourteen years.

On August 01, 1900, he was united in marriage to Lena A. Scheer, at Motor, Iowa, where the home and family were established. His two children, Florence and Ralph, were born there. In 1908 he and his family moved to a farm 2 1/2 miles northeast of Elkader where they lived until 1932 when he and Mrs. Bente moved to their new home in Elkader. In 1950 Mr. and Mrs. Bente were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary and then enjoyed six more years together until his wife's death just one year ago on March 12, 1957.

Being very civic minded, Mr. Bente was always active in the affairs of his community. He served on many boards and participated in so many ways in promoting different organizations for the advancement of his community, all of which stand as a monument to his efforts.

He is survived by two children, Florence M. (Mrs. Merritt Hamilton), and Ralph E. Bente, both of Elkader, and the above mentioned three sisters. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Anne (Mrs. Neal W. Perry) of Milwaukee, Wis., Thomas . Hamilton of Independence, and Marilyn F. Hamilton, a student at Iowa State Teachers college at Cedar Falls. There are two great-grandchildren, Marcus H. and Paul A Perry.

Besides the aforenamed survivors, there are nieces and nephews and many other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held Monday, March 17, at 2:00 p.m. at the Peace Evangelical and Reformed church with the Rev. Paul Kitterer officiating.

Pallbearers were Edward Leonard, Fred Eggimann, George Kuehl, Anton Johnson, Herman Fascher, and Ernie Seifert.

Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mrs. Neal W. Perry and children, Milwaukee, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Hamilton and Mr. and Mrs. James Hamilton, Independence; Mrs. Louis Bente and Mildred, Mason City; Mr. and Mrs. Art Jensen and Ruth, Osage; Mrs. Lloyd Pfaltzgraff and Irving Bente, Dumont; Mr. and Mrs. Lorenze Wilke, Fayette; Mrs. Anna Meese and Oscar, Littleport; and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Bente, Postville.