Memories

Snow is deep — the days long, maybe do an article for you readers. In going through the Shifting Scenes Vol. III, I found two families I had been thinking about for some time. Those two were Chris and Gerda Bentz and Damian (Curly) Culver.

“Christian and Gerda Bentz

By William Kevin Armstrong

Christian C. Bentz, was born December 20, 1891, at Artas, Campbell County, South Dakota, the son of Jacob and Margaret Bentz, of German extraction, one of four sons and three daughters.

He attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota and received a high school teaching certificate in 1914. He graduated from the University of Montana at Missoula, with a degree in law in 1918. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve following graduation.

During his university years, Chris starred in football, basketball, track and wrestling and he also did some boxing. For his athletic and career attainments he was elected to the Hall of Fame at Northern State College in Aberdeen and was given the Golden Grizzly Award from the University of Montana.

In 1917, he was named on Walter Camp’s All-Service Football team, which during World War I took the place of the All-American team.

Chris was a member of the Grizzly team which played Syracuse University to a 0-0 tie when the team was rated the nation’s number one. He is considered among the greeted athletes in Montana sports history.

After his naval reserve service, he went into the banking business until 1931. In 1931 he entered the implement business in South Dakota. While in business in that state, there is the story told about him as follows: “The company sent Chris on the road to collect some of the back log on bills. He went out in an old model pickup. He drove into a farmer’s yard, and the man came out to see what he wanted. When Chris stated he was a collector for the implement company, the fellow got angry and banged his fist on the pickup truck. Chris said, “If you want to bang on something, try banging on me.” Chris Bentz was a big man.

Chris married Gerda G. Henrietta Clausen on March 25, 1921, at Mobridge, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Julius and Anna Clausen, born April 9, 1898 in Denmark. When she was nine years old, she went with her parents to Huron, South Dakota. It was here in 1909 her twin sisters Alice and Helen were born. Gerda received her education there, went on and received a nursing degree at Aberdeen from Presentation School of Nursing.

In July, 1946, she and Chris moved to Ekalaka, where he went into partnership with his brother-in-law, Domain (Curly) Culver. They operated International Harvester Company; the firm was known as Bentz and Culver. Chris remained in business after Curly Culver’s death in 1950, until his retirement in 1968. The business was sold to Keith Larson of Ekalaka.

Chris was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of the Masonic Lodge, having joined on April 5, 1922. He was past master of the Ekalaka Lodge No. 120AF and Am, and was awarded a lodge pin for fifty years of membership. He was a charter member of Ekalaka Lions Club, and he was a member of the first Board of Directors of the Dahl Memorial Hospital. He was elected to the state legislature from Carter County in 1955 and served as Representative and later State Senator until 1965.

Chris Bentz worked hard for Carter County, and put a great effort into trying to get Route No. 7 North-South Highway completed, a dream he did not live to see completed.

Chris and Gerda had the following children: Phylis (Bentz) Crogan, and Shirley A. Bentz; a son Roger Bentz died as an infant. They moved to Spokane, Washington, to be near their daughters. Gerda died June 21, 1977, and her husband, Chris, died January 10, 1981. Both rest in I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Ekalaka, Montana.”

Many of you do not remember Chris, his family, and business in Ekalaka. My, how things have changed.

My short memories: A large man with a loud, gruff voice. As I was in high school during part of his time here I recall his presence at every football, basketball, and baseball game. Yes, we had baseball for a couple years under Coach E.E. Short. To say the least — he was a man who loved sports and was a great Carter County promoter.