Allan Bentson
Jul 28, 1933 -
Jan 11, 2024
Allan Arthur Bentson was born in Sidney, Mont., on July 28, 1933, to Augusta, nee Christensen, and Arthur Bentson. He was the youngest of six children. When he was 6 years old, the family moved to Tacoma, Wash. In 1953, he joined the Army, and his first assignment was to Ketchikan, Alaska, with the Alaska Communication System. It was there that he met and married Charleen. They had two daughters while living in Ketchikan, and a third daughter was born while Al was deployed to Korea. Together the family traveled to Arizona, Georgia, Washington, Germany, and finally back to Alaska in 1972. After retiring from the Army in 1974, he started his second career working for Alaska Sales and Service and retired from there in 1998.
Nothing was more important to Al than his family. While stationed in Germany, the family took advantage of long weekends to tent camp across Europe in their VW van. Life in Arizona was filled with picnics and day trips to ghost towns. Fishing, boating and getaways to Seward filled his retirement years in Anchorage. Al was a lifelong Lutheran and could often be heard singing in the choir. He loved red pickup trucks, a good glass of Scotch, making bacon and pancakes, and being the best Papa ever there was.
Allan suffered from dementia in his final years and passed away surrounded by family on Jan. 11, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Charleen, and daughters, Scooter Bentson (Roy Corral), Allison Griffith (Fred Griffith) and Angel Morton (Christyna Paris). Randy Lusk, Betsy Atkins, Claire Palmatier, Stephen Wilmeth, Elliot Morton, Natalie Morton and Hannah Minder and their families will all miss their beloved Papa. Two siblings, Ross Bentson of Auburn, Wash., and Gussie Gannon of Seattle, survive their baby brother.
We will miss his good humor, silly jokes, gentle teasing, whistling, patience and constant love and support. He was truly a great Dane!
A memorial service will be held in summer 2024 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Anchorage. Allan will be laid to rest at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery.
Remembrances can be made to Lutheran Social Services of Alaska in Allan's name.
