Mr. and Mrs. Stanley and Alice Bentzen

Stanley Kenneth Bentzen, age 89 of Wilmington, NC passed away at his residence Thursday August 11, 2011. Mr. Bentzen is a Retired Lieutenant of the US Navy where he served Honorably during WWII and Korea. He put his Civil Engineering degree to work at United States Steel where he spent the majority of his career. Stanley is preceded in death by his parents Karen (Hansen) Bentzen and Sigurd Bentzen.

Surviving is his loving wife Alice (Wilhelmsen) Bentzen of 56 years: Four Daughters; Lynn Horak and husband Rich of South Port, NC. Sharon Kerrison and husband Tony of Mt. Arlington, NJ. Lori Maguire and husband Patrick of Belle Harbor, NY. Holly Spaedt and husband Dick of Budd Lake, NJ: Six Grandchildren; Erick, Tara and Ashley Varone, Kenneth Tancredi, Thomas Luzzi and James Spaedt.

Stanley and Alice began their life together in the Bayridge section of Brooklyn, NY where they were married at the 59th Street Church. Soon after they moved into his biggest project to date, the house he built with his father in Hopatcong, NJ where they raised their four daughters and attended the Lutheran Church or Our Savior. Here they stayed for over 50 years before they moved to Wilmington, an area that they always loved.

Stanley was best known for his sense of humor and caring nature. He believed seriously in having a good time and making others laugh and enjoy themselves too. Yet his kind and loving nature will always be remembered by anyone who knew him; and best shown in his devotion to his family and friends. A tribute to Stanley wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging his limitless love of animals.

Funeral Services will be conducted Tuesday August 16, 2011at 11 am in the Oleander Chapel of Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home. Graveside and Military Honors will be held following the service in Oleander Memorial Gardens.

Visitation for Mr. Bentzen will be Monday evening August 15, 2011 from 6-8 pm at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Service.

Flowers are welcome, as are memorial contributions to the Lower Cape Fear Hospice at 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.

Coble Ward-Smith Funeral and Cremation Service is honored to be serving the family of Stanley Kenneth Bentzen.

Obituary for Alice Irene (Wilhelmsen) Bentzen:

Alice Irene (Wilhelmsen) Bentzen, age 84 of Wilmington, NC passed away on Monday September 5, 2011.

Alice was very recently widowed (August 11, 2011) by her loving husband of 56 years, Stanley K. Bentzen. Alice is preceded in death by her parents Anna Petrine (Sorensen) Wilhelmsen and Adolf Wilhelmsen and her sister Reidun Karlsen. Surviving are her four Daughters; Lynn Horak and husband Rich of Boiling Spring Lake, NC. Sharon Kerrison and husband Tony of Mt. Arlington, NJ. Lori Maguire and husband Patrick of Belle Harbor, NY. Holly Spaedt and husband Dick of Budd Lake, NJ: Six Grandchildren; Erick, Tara and Ashley Varone, Kenneth Tancredi, Thomas Luzzi and James Spaedt; Brother, Willy Wilhelmsen of Wilmington, NC and sister, Aslaug Christiansen of North Babylon, NY.

Alice grew up in Brooklyn, NY and Spangereid, Norway. Alice and Stanley began their life together in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, NY where they met. They were married at the 59th Street Church in February 1955. They moved to Hopatcong, NJ where they raised their four daughters and attended the Hillside Lutheran Brethren Church and later the Lutheran Church of Our Savior. Mrs. Bentzen worked as a Bank Teller and a Legal Assistant and was active in various clubs and community organizations. Later in life they moved to Wilmington, NC; an area that they had loved and frequently visited. Mrs. Bentzen was a member of the Carolina Beach Presbyterian Church.

Alice was a beautiful, sophisticated and elegant lady; respected and loved by all. She will be remembered for her kind and giving nature and tireless devotion to her husband, children and grandchildren. Alice was the central focus of the family and will be dearly missed.

Visitation for Mrs. Bentzen will be Wednesday evening September 7, 2011 from 6 to 8 pm at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Service.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday September 8, 2011 at 11 am in the Carolina Beach Presbyterian Church preceded by a coffee and cake social starting at 10 am. The graveside service will follow immediately at Oleander Memorial Gardens.

Flowers are welcome, as are memorial contributions to the Carolina Beach Presbyterian Church at 1209 N Lake Park Blvd. Carolina Beach, NC 28412.