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Submitted: 9/18/23 • Approved: 9/19/23 • Last Updated: 9/22/23 • R275432-G0-S3
Section 12 Columbarium #4
Jay Stuart Bentz
December 1, 1959 - March 7, 2023
Jay Stuart Bentz passed away March 7, 2023 from complications of Early Onset Alzheimer’s; he went peacefully while under the care of Dougherty House Hospice and surrounded by family.
Visitation with the family present will be from 4 to 7 pm on Monday, April 3, 2023, at Miller Funeral Home, 507 South Main Avenue. A memorial service will be held at 3 pm on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the Miller Funeral Home Chapel and live-streamed at https://youtube.com/live/nBFvMXp6LvE?feature=share
Jay was born December 1, 1959 in Rapid City, SD to Gene and Fairy (McPhail) Bentz. After graduating from O’Gorman High School in 1978, he attended the University of Sioux Falls. Jay worked for Equitable Financial for his entire professional career. He enjoyed his work and continued education in his field achieving multiple certifications and awards, capped off by receiving the Order of Excalibur at a banquet in Paris. Doubtless he would have remained at his job for many more years to help his clients whom he considered all his friends.
He married the love of his life, Susan Grace Norem on September 12th, 1992. Together, they raised three children, Clara, William, and Channing, in a home full of much love and support.
He enjoyed playing amateur baseball and spent 40 years on the Dell Rapids PBR team, much of that time holding the dual role of catcher and manager. When he could, he would play on the South Dakota teams participating in postseason Senior World Series tournaments. The wins were welcome but the camaraderie was paramount. Jay was honored with entry into the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, Man of the Year 2019, the Randy Weber Inspiration Award, an honorary designation from the South Dakota Umpires Association, and a recognition day from both the city of Dell Rapids and South Dakota Governor Daugaard.
In his full but abbreviated life, Jay indulged his love of basketball, golf, skiing, surfing, and camping. His adventures took him to England, Italy, France, Norway, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico. He especially loved Hawaii. The joy of travel is something that he shared with his wife and passed on to his children. He is remembered for his love of music and could always find the best new bands. The many, many friendships he maintained from even his earliest years were a fundamental part of his life. If he could impart any wisdom, it would be this simple thing: “choose happiness.”
Grateful for sharing his life are his wife Susan (Norem) of Sioux Falls, SD; daughter Clara Bentz of Phoenix, AZ; sons William Bentz of Madison, WI; and Channing Bentz of Sioux Falls, SD; sister Gina (Bentz) Davis of Palmer, AK; sister Nancy (Bentz) Green of Sioux Falls, SD; and half-sister Deanna Taggs of Honolulu, HI; and his nieces and nephews Nainoa Wong, Honolulu, HI; Tom Benedett, San Diego, CA; Laura Benedett, Springfield, MO; Hannah Norem, Pflugerville, TX; Joseph Norem, Pflugerville, TX; Samara Green, Sioux Falls, SD; and Roarke Green, Sioux Falls, SD. Also his beloved dog, Moosh.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Gene & Fairy Bentz and father-in-law, Harlan Norem. He will be inurned at St. Michael Cemetery, Sioux Falls, SD.
Memorials may be directed to Helping Kids Round First, Flandreau, SD an organization Jay was proud to be a part of, or South Dakota Alzheimer’s Association, in gratitude for its invaluable support.
If you have any stories, photos, music that reminds you of him, or any memories of Jay, please share them to jaybentzmemories@gmail.com. This email will be used as a private collection point for his family. This is a small attempt at reclaiming a tiny piece of the phenomenal loss that Alzheimer’s took. There is truly no memory too small.
Contributed on 9/18/23 by 9katz
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Record #: 275432