Eleanor Bentson

Sent from Heaven 97 years ago on April 17, 1918, Eleanor Mae Bentson completed her journey Home on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015.

Raised in Newark, Ill., where she tore up the back country roads delivering her dad’s Buicks, she ended up in Aurora, Ill., where she met Ralph, who would be her husband for 42 years and her pioneer partner migrating to Fountain Hills in 1978.

Mom to Pam and Cassie, the perfect children who freed up her time for other endeavors, Eleanor discovered her exceptional talents in the areas of civic activities, fund raising and her passion for politics.

From selling real estate to managing an Illinois U.S. Congressional office to hosting Maureen Reagan and welcoming the likes of Richard Nixon, Shirley Temple Black, Everett Dirksen, Phyllis Schlafly and Barry Goldwater, Eleanor brought her enthusiasm to every cause she embraced.

She brought her energy, civic involvement and love of politics to Fountain Hills where she was an early advocate of incorporation, board member of the Civic Association, Republican Club and founder of the Fountain Lake Republican Women’s Club to name a few.

In her spare time she shared her smile at MCO Realty and Properties until she became the face of the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at their lakeside trailer location in 1989. For 25 years she greeted visitors, extolled the wonderments of Fountain Hills and Arizona, gave hugs, chocolate and love to everyone who walked through the door.

One of her many legacies – people still visit the Chamber Visitor Center and ask where she is while many residents say that she is the reason they moved here.

Eleanor loved and was genuinely interested in people, always putting others first while staying in the background. Never blowing her own horn, she didn’t know how beautiful she was inside and out…she was simply being Eleanor. She truly was love walking…“Jenai, the one who loves people.”

Preceded in death by husband Ralph and beloved granddaughter Michelle Mae Aister, Eleanor is survived by daughters Pam Aister, Cassie Hansen and “son” Bruce Hansen, nephews and nieces Don Garbe, Connie Aldrich, Dave and Debbie Garbe, their children Brian and Kimberlea/Brady Wadsworth as well as her precious Purple People, volunteers and the hundreds of others that she adopted as her own over the years.

Due to family health issues, Eleanor’s celebration has been rescheduled to Saturday, Oct. 17, 1 p.m. at Christ’s Church. The family thanks everyone for their heartfelt cards, calls and support….especially Mike Scharnow’s tribute to alert everyone of her passing when we couldn’t.