Jerome ‘Jerry’ Bentz

NEW ULM — Jerome “Jerry” Bentz, 85, died Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021 at Prairie Senior Cottages, New Ulm.

Succinctly, Bentz was a man of service.

He served 31 years in the U.S. Army, Minnesota National Guard, and the Army Reserve, retiring as a First Sergeant. He later served 16 years as Brown County Treasurer and Brown County Administrator.

In October 2019, Jerry received a shadow box (containing medals and ribbon awards) from U.S. Navy Capt. David Schubkegel at Prairie Senior Cottages.

Schubkegel, who served in the National Guard under Bentz in New Ulm before he joined the Navy, said he looked up to Bentz since he was a child.

“He’s probably one of the finest people I’ve known and served with,” Schubkegel said.

Growing up on his parents John and Olga Bentz’s Moltke Township farm, rural Gibbon, Bentz graduated from Martin Luther High School in New Ulm.

After one year at Dr. Martin Luther College, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955. He served in military intelligence in Germany from 1955 to 1957.

Returning to work on the family farm, he married LaVonne E. Becker at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Moltke Township.

After working at Bordens, Jerry completed an accounting degree in 1979 and worked for Biebl Ranweiler Accounting until 1981 when he was appointed Brown County Treasurer. He served in that capacity and later as Brown County Administrator until retiring in 1997.

Bentz served on many church boards and committees at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Moltke Township; St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm; Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

In addition, Bentz served on many local and statewide councils, boards, commissions, and organizations.

Visitation continues 2-3 p.m. Saturday at the church. Services are 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Ulm. Burial follows in New Ulm City Cemetery, Soldier’s Rest section. Live-streaming begins at 3 p.m. Saturday on Minnesota Valley Funeral Home’s Facebook page.

For more information, visit www.mvfh.org.