Merland "Muggs" Bentley, 96

Merland "Muggs" Bentley, 96, of Grangeville, passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Muggs was born Aug. 12, 1911, at Gill Point near Grangeville, a son of Ernest and Eunice Palmer Bentley. He attended Grangeville-area schools and following his education he worked as a packer for the U.S. Forest Service. He started a longtime hobby of rodeo in 1928 and was active until 1964.

He married Jettie Lyda on Nov. 8, 1933, in Asotin, and she passed away in 1974. He married Doris Inghram in 1976 and she passed away in 1993.

He was a member of the Mount Idaho Lodge No. 9 AF&AM, Scottish Rite, Calam Temple, the Elks Lodge and Eagles.

He is survived by his daughter, Yvonne Wright and her husband, Jim, of Roseburg, Ore.; grandchildren Sonja Wright and husband Joe Criscione of Napa, Calif., and Lottie and husband Michael Hamrick of Roseburg; and a great-grandson, Alex Hamrick of Roseburg. He is also survived by a sister, Chloe McCulley of Grangeville; a stepson and wife, Roger and Janice Inghram of Grangeville; and his loving companion, LaVonne Gotzinger of Grangeville.

Memorial services will be conducted later this spring. Services are under the direction of Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.

Send condolences to the family at http://www.blackmerfuneralhome.com/.