Rolf Bentzen

Rolf BENTZEN
May 11, 1920 - September 7, 2024

Passed away peacefully, in his 105th year, at the Wales Home, on September 7, 2024.
Beloved husband of the late Phyllis (Robertson) 1981. Loving father of Debra Bentzen, Carolyn Bentzen and Janet Bentzen (Bob Philips). Loving grandfather of Nicole Longstaff (Rupert) and David Longstaff (Ayano), Shane Sparkes (Brittany), Bobby Phillips (Amanda) and Becky Phillips. Proud great-grandfather of Sophia and Kane, Zoey, Kia and Jack, James and Archer.
Rolf was born in Notodden, Norway to Gerda and Bent Bentzen. He spent his young years in Norway and then joined a merchant ship to train as a machinist. He landed in Seattle and made his way across the USA/Canada border and ended up on Vancouver Island doing jobs as a logger and fish canner at 19. When Norway was occupied by Germany, Rolf had no way of returning home, so he decided to join the Canadian army and spent 5 years overseas in Britain, France (D-day landing at Juno Beach), Netherlands and Germany. He was presented with the National Order of the Legion of Honour from France. 
When the war was over, he returned to Norway, but made his way back to Canada to marry a young lady he met 6 years earlier. Rolf and Phyllis were married September 19, 1946.  After 2 years of living and working in Vancouver, Rolf and Phyllis were missing eastern Canada.  They settled in Toronto and Rolf worked as a foreman for Ontario Hydro until his retirement in 1975. Rolf and Phyllis decided to relocate to the Eastern Townships where they had bought a farm property in Sandhill a few years earlier. Renovations continued and adding a few animals it began to look like a real farm - Pine Tree Lane. He was involved in many activities in the Lennoxville area including square dancing with the Tartan Twillers, the Cookshire Royal Canadian Legion Branch #2 and was a Grandmaster of the Masonic Friendship Lodge No. 66.
After Phyllis's death in 1981, Rolf settled in Ottawa. He was an active member of the Good Companion, Ducks Unlimited and gave his time at the Perley Rideau Hospital.  He took up carving and focused on ducks and birds and won several ribbons in various categories but was happy to try other things as well. He was truly a gifted woodcarver.
He moved from Ottawa to Lennoxville to the St Francis Manor in 2016. Rolf was an active member of the North Hatley Royal Canadian Legion Branch #242 as well as the A.N.A.F Unit #318 (The Hut). He enjoyed participating in the annual Remembrance Day Services.  Years pass and impairments increased so Rolf spent is final time at the Wales Home.
He was truly remarkable and everyone that knows him will remark, like the Frank Sinatra song - I DID IT MY WAY - until the very end.
Visitation with the family will be Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at the Cass Funeral Home, 3006 College St., Sherbrooke (Lennoxville) from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 3:30 p.m. A gathering at the North Hatley Legion will follow. A burial will be held Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Cookshire Protestant Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the North Hatley Legion or A.N.A.F (The Hut).
CASS?FUNERAL HOMES
3006 College St.,
Sherbrooke, QC
PHONE: 819-564-1750
FAX: 819-564-4423
www.casshomes.ca