SHERIDAN -The funeral for Sheridan resident James Bentzen, 76, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church m Sheridan by Pastor David Duprey. Interment will be held at a later date. A reception will follow the service. He died Nov. 25, 2005, at Sheridan Veterans Affairs' Medical Center.

Born April 14, 1929, in Oakland, Calif., he was the son of Ann E. (Tolman) and Lyle W. Bentzen.

On June 11, 1952, he married Joan Elaine Sidie in Grinnell, Iowa.

He graduated from Coe College in 1952 and joined the U.S. Air Force in August 1952, during the Korean War. He was proud to be a pilot.

While serving in the Air Force, he contracted polio, which forced his retirement after two years. "He was the oldest known living polio survivor within the Veterans' Administration."

Casper Star-Tribune - Nov. 29, 2005.