Alice Bentley Holland (October 20, 1915 – January 3, 2011)
The sunshine which so characterizes Utah’s Dixie dimmed just a little on January 3, 2011, a tribute to the passing of one of its treasured daughters, Alice Bentley Holland. It is fitting that Alice died in her own home located equidistant between the classic red sandstone of the St. George Tabernacle, her childhood LDS meetinghouse, and the incomparable St. George Temple, which dominated the landscape of her life and which she faithfully attended until her death. Alice was as strong as the stones with which both buildings had been built by her pioneer ancestors and she never wanted to live in any city, state, or nation that could not provide her a view of her beloved Pine Valley Mountain.
Alice was born October 20, 1915, the first of six children to Herbert Roy and Leonora Snow Bentley. She attended local schools where she was an exceptional student sitting at the feet of remarkably devoted teachers, two of whom were her parents. On September 7, 1936, Alice married Frank Dennis Holland who, with his Irish charm, swept her off her feet. She found her deepest joy and truest sense of mission in mothering three sons and a daughter, Dennis (Jean) of Placerville, California, Jeffrey (Patricia) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Scott, who died in infancy, and Deborah Holland Millet of St. George, Utah. Her joy has been magnified in her senior years by twenty-five grandchildren/grandchildren-in-law, thirty-six great grandchildren, and two great, great grandchildren. Her husband, son, parents and two sisters, Erma Sandberg of Washington, Utah and Mildred Dailey of Granite Bay, California preceded her in death. She is survived by one sister, Helen Nisson Jolley of Washington, Utah, and two brothers, Herbert S. Bentley of St. George, Utah, and Marion J. Bentley of Provo, Utah.
Alice served in all the auxiliaries of the LDS Church, with perhaps her happiest years being those she served with her husband and daughter as a missionary in England (1962-63) and California (1963-64.) After the death of her husband, she served faithfully as a volunteer telephone operator in the St. George Temple for nearly twenty-five years.
The family wishes to thank the host of friends, neighbors and professionals who loved and cared for Alice in her declining years. Special mention must be made of Ana Mitchell, her live-in care giver in the final months of her life, Dr. Clark Staheli, her physician, and the devoted employees of Applegate Home Care and Hospice. Her granddaughters, Heather Holland Adams and Rebecca Holland Ganowsky, also gave special care to Alice for many years.
Appreciation is expressed to the members of the St. George Fifth Ward for their loyalty and compassionate service to Alice and her family in this time of loss.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the St. George East Stake Center immediately east of the St. George Temple. There will be a viewing held Friday, January 7, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, from 9:30 to 10: 30 a.m. prior to the service, both visitations held at the Stake Center.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make donations to the LDS Missionary Fund or a favorite charity of your choosing.