SHERIDAN - Services for Sheridan resident Richard Jean "Dick" Bentzen, 84, will be conducted at noon today at the First Baptist Church in Sheridan by Pastor Kenneth Doolin. Burial will be in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.
He died Jan. 6, 2002, at the Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in Sheridan.
He was born April 24, 1917, in Sheridan, the son of Raymond Charles and Marie Natalie (Johnson) Bentzen; and was raised and educated in Sheridan. He graduated from high school in 1935 and attended two years of college at the Bradley School of Horology of Peoria, Ill. In 1939, he graduated with a degree in watch-making.
A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he served in the South Pacific on the aircraft carrier USS Sibony as an aircraft instrument repairman.
On July 14, 1940, he married Vivian Gail Laub in Sheridan. She preceded him in death in 1974.
He later married Bea Wallace in Sheridan. She died in 1999.
A watchmaker, he set up his first watchmakers's bench in the back of the White Swan Barber Shop. He then was the owner of Sheridan Confectionary and he repaired watches in the back of the store.
Later he worked at the American Jewelry Store in Sheridan, then went to work at Oswald's Jewelry, where he retired after 43 years of watch-making.
A lifelong member of First Baptist Church, the American Legion and Powder River Navy, he loved to travel, do woodworking, sing and tinker in his shop. He dearly loved his children and grandchildren and was a devout Christian.
Survivors include two daughters, Marilee Myers of Lake City, Fla., and Jean Ellenwood of Sheridan; brother, Carl Bentzen of Denver; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Raymond, Lyle and Donald Bentzen.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church or the Dick and Bea Bentzen Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Wyoming Girls School, P.O. Box 868, Sheridan 82801.
Champion Ferries Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.