Miriam "Mimi" Gail (Mackin) Bentley

BENTLEY, MIRIAM “MIMI” GAIL (MACKIN) MONTELLO – Miriam “Mimi” Gail (Mackin) Bentley, age 82, of Montello, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, while on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She was born on Feb. 14, 1932, in Madison, the daughter of George and Loretta (Cotter) Mackin. Mimi graduated from Madison West High School in 1950. She married her childhood sweetheart, Gordon Emmett Bentley, on June 30, 1951. They moved to Norfolk, Va. for three years while Gordon served in the U.S. Marines. They lived near Milwaukee, Wis. for ten years before moving to Oregon, Wis. in 1964. There they owned and operated The Archery Center of Madison, raised their four children and built a world class hunting camp, Bear Paw Landing, in Wabigoon Ontario, where Mimi was “chief cook and bottle washer” as she liked to call herself. Mimi and Gordon retired in 1989 and moved to their beloved “Arrowood” near Montello, Wis. Mimi loved mowing the lawn on her John Deere tractor, bow hunting, fishing and wood carving. She was a skilled seamstress and knitter. Mimi sewed her own wedding dress and her grandchildren had countless knitted sweaters and Christmas stockings. She adored spending time with her family and friends and was an accomplished world traveler. Mimi loved woodcarving time with her good friend, Cindy Potthast. Mimi was co-author of “Meadow in the Wood; The Family History of Gordon and Mimi Bentley”. She also wrote several articles for archery industry publications and was known for her famous Christmas time poems. Mimi was a kind and giving soul who always put everyone else first. She loved her dear husband and treasured their life together. She cherished her family and friends. Everyone who met Mimi was taken in by her gentle soul. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Mimi is survived by her loving husband, Gordon; her twin sister, Bernice Burris; children, Floyd (Laurie) Russell, Gail, Alan (Terry), Lynn (David) Stiklestad; grandchildren, Cole (Carrie), Holly (Kerrol) Evins, Luke (Sarah), Emmylyn, Caleb, Toni (Phil) Gadke, Christopher (Lisa) Rogers, Janelle (Tynan) Heller, Dianna (Ryan) Stace, Kyle (Jennifer) Stiklestad and Andrea Stiklestad; ten great-grandchildren and three more on the way. A celebration of Mimi’s life will be held at GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL HOME, 1150 Park Street, Oregon, at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until the time of the memorial service on Monday. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorial contributions be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. “It’s a beautiful day!”