Alice A. Bensley

Alice Ayako Okuhama Bensley of Grand Junction, Colorado, went home to be with Jesus on Friday, July 31, 2026, at her home in the Grand Villa Assisted Living facility. She was 88 years old. Her life was full with faith, family, kids, and friends, setting an example for all with her amazing strength, commitment, endurance, and patience, full of grace.

Born January 6, 1938, in Wailuku, on the island of Maui, Hawaii, then a territory of the United States. Her father and mother, Shinichi and Utome Okuhama, were of Okinawan descent, a culture blended with Hawaiian that was a rich part of her life, shared with so many family members. She attended Wailuku Elementary and graduated from Baldwin High in 1956. She attended the University of Iowa, earning a BS in Education, and she was an educator all her life, even earning her Master's degree in Special Education just before she retired in 2000.

She met her husband Harlan Bensley while attending college, marrying on December 19, 1959. They moved to Denver to teach school and begin their family. From 1969-1970, they and their kids spent the year at Ivory Coast Academy in West Africa, teaching and being dorm parents at the missionary kids’ school. Upon returning to the States, they lived briefly in Salida, moving to Twin Lakes, then settling in Leadville until 1984, when they moved to Grand Junction.

Her heart was always for others, but especially for investing in children. She not only taught Elementary school all these years, but also was a part of Child Evangelism Fellowship and taught many kids about Jesus in Good News Clubs.

They loved to travel, visiting Hawaii, Europe (while returning from Ivory Coast, West Africa), Okinawa, Japan, Israel, Costa Rica, Mexico several times, and Thailand.

Her heart to serve others was instilled in her kids and grandkids, and was evident to all around, even until the end. So many were blessed by her heart to minister to and encourage others.

Preceded in death: Husband: Harlan Bensley; Siblings: Harry Okuhama; Nancy Tamashiro; Alan Okuhama

Survived and deeply missed by: Son, Brian (Kerri) Bensley; and their kids: Kayla (Nick), great granddaughter Brynleigh Evancich; Jaelyn (Taylor), great granddaughter Landry Ziolkowski; Daughter, Miki (Greg) Bristol; and their kids: Brittney, Brandan, Andrew, and Leilani.

Sisters: Elnora Umeda; Maizy Howell, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and calabash cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Alice’s name to Samaritan’s Purse International relief

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/memorial-page/alice-bensley-grand-junction-co/.

We would love to invite those who knew and loved her to join us at her Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 19,2026 10:00am at Redlands Community Church: 2327 Broadway, Grand Junction.