Marilyn Bentke

Marilyn Lillian (Gaskamp) Bentke, 80, wife of Ernest Bentke, died February 23, 2018 in Brenham.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 26, 2018 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Pastors Phil Fenton and Brianna Merkle will officiate. Burial will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Oaks Chapel.

Marilyn Bentke was born January 4, 1938 to Robert F. and Ida M. Rodenbeck Gaskamp. She was baptized April 10, 1938 in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church by Pastor Theo Strang and confirmed March 29, 1953 in the same church. On June 14, 1964, she was married to Ernest Ray Bentke in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brenham.

Marilyn was a housewife. She enjoyed gardening and working in her flower beds. Spending time with her granddaudghters and playing pitch and bingo were also activities she enjoyed.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Milton C. Gaskamp and Robert E. Gaskamp; sister, Evelyn M. Giesenschlag; brothers-in-law Melvin Giesenschlag and Melvin Bentke; sister-in-law Barbara Gaskamp Sanders; mother-in-law and father-in-law Elsie and Ernest E. Bentke, and her best friend, Joyce Mantey.

Survivors include her husband, Ernest Ray Bentke; son and daughter-in-law, Russell and Rhonda (Kelm) Bentke; as well as her beautiful grandchildren: Raeann Shelfer and husband Bradley, Rachel Bentke and special friend, Trayse Heater, Raynie Bentke and fiancé Garrett Broesche; sister-in-law, Dorothy Bentke, and her dear friend, Delores Gaskamp, as well numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Serving as pallbearers are John Giesenschlag, Mike Gaskamp, Robert K. Gaskamp, Robert John Giesenschlag, Roy Garcia, Key Kurl, Russell Halfmann, and Nathan Winkelmann.

Honorary pallbearers Delores Gaskamp, Melynda Giesenschlag, Kathy Gaskamp-Graves, Ralph Wittner, Steve Durbin, and all of Marilyn’s pitch playing friends

Memorials may be directed to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Radio Ministeries or any favorite charity.

Funeral arrangements for Marilyn Bentke are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.

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