Susan N. Bentley

Susan Noel Bentley died in Aurora, CO on September 6, 2026 from natural causes. She was born the day after Christmas, December 26, 1942, to Elaine J. and Ralph W. (Bill) Becker at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado. She spent her childhood years in Denver, graduating from South High School in 1960. She attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois where she received her BA in Elementary Education.

Her first job was teaching elementary school for the Colorado Springs school district. After several years of teaching, she went to Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan to obtain certification in the brand-new field of Special Education.

She returned to Colorado 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. Susan and Ron married at Thanksgiving in 1979 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 spent her life providing love and support to everyone she encountered, including 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 live in his own 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), and Susan’s four grand-nieces and her grand-nephew. 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.