Gentry county Missouri, Obituaries: Vasta Bentley Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by: Don Raymond St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press; Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005: Vasta Bentley 1923-2005; ALBANY, Mo. - Vasta Bentley, 82, of Albany, passed away Monday, Dec. 5, 2005 at the Albany hospital. She was born May 4, 1923, in Alanthus, Mo., the daughter of Cleo A. and Laura (Yadon) Pierce. Vasta attended eight years of grade school at Alanthus and four years of high school at Stanberry, Mo., and graduated in 1941. She helped with the family farm and worked for Old American Insurance Co. She married Robert Lavelle "Bud" Bentley, Dec. 31, 1943. Together they partnered with Andy and Mildred Ettleman owning and operating lumber yards in Gentry, Sheridan and Hopkins, Mo. In 1961, they sold these lumber yards, and bought a larger lumber yard and added a concrete ready-mix plant in Bedford, Iowa. They called their business the County Boys Lumber and Concrete. They added another lumber yard and ready-mix plant one year later in Mount Ayr, Iowa. Then in 1963, they purchased another lumber yard and grain elevator in Lenox, Iowa. Vasta was a homemaker and bookkeeper for their lumber yards, and a faithful member of the Alanthus Church of Christ. Preceding her in death were her parents; and husband, Robert "Bud" Bentley, in 1972. She also was preceded in death by brother, Garland B. Pierce; nephew, Lloyd E. Pierce; niece, Linda Lou Pierce; and great-nephew, John A. Wilson. Survivors: bother, Harland C. Pierce, Albany; sister-in-law, Margaret Elizabeth Pierce, St. Joseph, Mo.; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. Vasta's family was very important to her, both immediate and extended. Her home was always open - for many large home cooked meals. She was a loving, kind and generous person, and will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Funeral service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Alanthus Church of Christ. The family will receive friends 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Roberson-Polley Chapel, Albany, where friends may call anytime after 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Burial: High Ridge Cemetery, Stanberry. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, Mo., 64402.