Richard A. Bentley

Richard (Dick) Bentley, was born on June 20, in 1948. He peacefully returned to our Lord on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 at the age of 77.

Dick was a lifetime resident of Battle Creek. He was a Boy Scout and attended Franklin Elementary School, Southeastern Junior High, and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1967.

After graduation, Dick married the love of his life, Susan (Morris) Bentley, started a family, and hired out as a fireman with Grand Trunk Western Railroad/Canadian National.

Over the next 3 years, through hard work, training, dedication, and passing yearly examinations he received the necessary credentials and promotions to become a locomotive engineer.

Dick (RA) loved running the trains and was known for his integrity, professionalism, sense of humor, and as a man of God. RA retired from Grand Trunk Western Railroad/Canadian National after 30 years of dedicated service.

The unpredictable hours worked by a railroad man made it easy to spend a lot of time with his family doing the things that he loved; going to the lake cottage where he spent the days boating, swimming, skiing, tubing, “lumming” and playing tag around the raft with friends and family.

In addition to the fun times at the lake, Dick also enjoyed playing golf, composing beautiful poems conveying his deep love for his Savior, riding motorcycles and snowmobiles, family gatherings, traveling, watching his granddaughter play volleyball, and spending time with his kids and grandkids.

Richard was a long time member of the North Avenue Church of God. He was passionate about bringing others to Jesus and prayed daily God would provide him with the opportunity to witness to others about the Love of Jesus.

Dick would rise early daily to read his bible, pray for his family and those who were on his prayer list. Dick’s (AKA Mr. B), calling was to witness to others about God: teaching Sunday school, Awana, and mentoring young men to strengthen their faith in their walk with Jesus while lifting weights with them at the Battle Creek Y Center.

Richard is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Susan (Morris) Bentley; their children: Kimberly (Duncan) McDougall, Joseph (Becca) Bentley, Pamela (Peter) Briggs, Steven (Daniel) Bentley; their grandchildren: Peter Briggs, Paige (Connor) Briggs-Romine, Ryan Bentley, Ella Bently, Joseph Richard Bentley Jr., Eva Bentley, Luna Wicks, Vivian Bentley, Landon Hollister, and Avery Hollister; and his siblings: Janice (John) Maize , Joseph (Carol) Bentley, Kristine Gardner; and many nieces and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and A. Irene Bentley and his brother-in-law Charles Gardner.

Family and Friends will be received from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025 at the North Avenue Church of God, 1079 North Ave. Battle Creek MI 49017, followed by a service at 11:00 am to celebrate his life and a luncheon after the service. The service will be Live-streamed and may be viewed on the North Avenue Church of God Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/northavenuechurch). Arrangements by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation & Preneed Care. Personal messages for the family and favorite memories of Richard may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.