Shelly was born Dec. 9, 1969, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her parents are Gary and Carol Fessler Bentley. She started walking when she was 9 months old and never stopped from that day on. Even a broken leg at the age of 2 never slowed her down. In fact, she wore the bottom of the cast out; at the end it would just slide up and down her leg. She went to grade school at Kearns Elementary, until her family moved to Evanston.
She had countless friends that loved her dearly. She loved music, singing, dancing and life. She graduated from Evanston High School in 1988. Her first marriage in 1989 took her to Tacoma, Washington, where she lived for 18 years. She met her son Joshua’s father and after a divorce, she and Josh moved back to Evanston.
On March 5, 2011, she met her soulmate and the love of her life, Kim Putnam. He, along with her son Josh, was the best thing that happened in her life.
Her crowning achievement was the birth of her son Josh. They were best friends and had many ups and downs, but her love never died for Kim and Josh, and she fought the odds, to be able to see and enjoy the first year of her grandson Jhett’s Life.
Shelly died on Oct. 4, in Evanston after a long battle with alcohol addiction and diabetes. At the time of her death she was serving as facilitator in the Recovery Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She was preceded in death by her sister Barbi; her grandparents, Buck and Leona Bentley and Dick and Alice Fessler; several aunts, uncles and cousins whom she adored and who in turn loved her. The reunion in Heaven will be a big one, especially because she returned to her Heavenly Home on the day between her maternal grandparents’ birthdays.
She is survived by her husband Kim; her son Josh and his fiance, Bailey; her beautiful grandson Jhett; parents Gary and Carol Bentley; siblings Debra Gottfried, Gary Jr. (Pete) and Bob Bentley; stepchildren Katie Rutter Olotoa, Kim Jr. and Noel Putnam; nieces Heather Pasenelli, Melonie and Pat Ballinger; Michelle, Shyanne, Kasyn and McKaylie Gottfried; Michael Snider; and Tyler, Stephen and Sammy Bentley, whom she loved with all her heart. She also has numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, too many to list but all played an important role in her life.
Condolences may be made at www.crandallfhevanston.com.
