Susan N. Bentley

Susan Noel Bentley died in Aurora, Colorado on September 6, 2026 from natural causes. She was born the day after Christmas in 1942, to Elaine J. and Ralph W. (Bill) Becker at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver. She spent her childhood years in Denver, graduating from South High School in 1960. She then attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois where she received her BA in Elementary Education.

Susan’s first job was teaching elementary school for the Colorado Springs school district. After several years of teaching, she decided to attend Michigan State University for certification in the brand-new field of Special Education.

A devoted Coloradan, Susan returned to spend her career with Aurora Public Schools System (APSS). Her first position was in the central administration leading the way for the implementation of the 1975 Federal Education for All Handicapped Children Act. She later taught Special Education students, and also, served as Principal for several elementary schools.

In the course of her work, Susan met Ronald W. Bentley who was then an Assistant Superintendent for APSS. In 1979, Susan and Ron were married in St. Martin’s Chapel at St John’s Episcopal Cathedral. They remained happily married for 30 years until Ron’s death in 2009.

Susan was a life-long member of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral. After earning a Masters in Theology from the Iliff School of Theology Denver University, she performed many support roles for the St. John’s clergy, including visiting shut-ins and writing prayers.

Susan enjoyed throwing dinner parties, treating her guests to her gourmet cooking. She and Ron lived in their Aurora apartment for over 40 years, precisely because Susan loved their panoramic view of the mountains. In fact, she had a deep love for the mountains, skiing when young and walking as an adult, even making the trek to the top of Mt Evans.

Susan spent her life providing love and support to everyone she encountered, especially her parents and her husband. For several decades, she made creative greeting cards for all holidays, which she gave to friends and relatives and anyone she knew who was house-bound or elderly. She also made beautiful quilts that she shared with family members.

When Ron developed Defuse Louie Body Syndrome, Susan gave herself personally to his total care, enabling him to stay at home and have the maximum quality of life possible. For 10 years, Susan tended to him as he slipped deeper into dementia and struggled with Parkinson’s-like physical disabilities.

Susan is survived by her sister Barbara Herbst and her nephews Thomas Franz (Monique) and Matthew Franz (Lisa), Susan’s four grand-nieces and her grand-nephew, and Susan’s step-daughters Rhonda Wardlaw (Mark) and Barbara Goodman, and step-son Doug Bentley (Sheila). Susan will be interred with Ron at Fort Logan National Cemetery. 

She would wish you to contribute to the National Wildlife Federation or  the Sierra Club.