Craig Bentley

Craig B. Bentley, age 91, passed away on July 20, 2022, in Grand Junction, Colorado following a long decline with dementia.  He was born October 26, 1930 in Tooele, Utah, to LeRoi and Bessie Bentley. He graduated from Carbon High School, Price, Utah in 1948.  He was in the US Army, stationed in Germany.

Craig earned a masters’ degree in geology and did a post-graduate study in hydrology. He also said that he liked “bringing water to a thirsty world.” He worked for the United States Geological Survey for 30 years, retiring in 1990.   Then Craig did consulting work, including a year in Gaza.

Craig married and later divorced Verlyn Westwood; they had six children together: Jeffery, Scott, Heather, Brett, Darcy, and Daniel. He then married and later divorced Leiloa Tamaseu; they had one son, Ian.  Craig then married VaDonna McKim, and they spent 35 years together.

Craig loved the outdoors.  He once told a grandson that he became a geologist so he could work outdoors.   He loved to hike, camp and run.  He ran 4 miles every other day most of his adult life and was active in running and race-walking competitions into his 60’s.  When he couldn’t run anymore, he walked. Craig was still taking long walks and working out in the gym until he was 85.

He and his wife VaDonna moved to Grand Junction in 2012 to be near family. He is survived by his wife, VaDonna McKim; his five sons, two daughters, three step-daughters (Cathy, Paula, Julie), Craig and VaDonna share between them 21 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.