Obituary of Yvonne Ray Bentley/Richardson

Yvonne Ray (Rayee) Bentley/Richardson, 85, earlier resident of Pierce and most recently past, Lewis County, Washington, entered her eternal rest peacefully on one of her favorite holidays Tuesday July 4, 2023, surrounded by family.

 

Yvonne was born on July 10, 1937, to Willis L. and Alice E. Bentley in Breckenridge, MN. After Yvonne graduated from Auburn High School in 1955, she began her employment career with Nabisco food company. After her time with Nabisco, Yvonne continued through her professional career employed by The Crescent department store, Boeing, Rohr, Meridian Brokers Real Estate, and the Washington State Government agencies consisting of the Division of Developmental Disabilities and Western State Hospital.

 

In 1960 Yvonne met Wilber Harold Richardson (Rich) through mutual friends and married January 5, 1961. Yvonne and Rich went on to have three children, Lisa Diane, Eric Christian, and Kristen Marie.

 

Throughout the years of her life, Yvonne was an active volunteer in areas of interest to both her and her children. Yvonne sponsored many missionaries over the years, a missionary family’s child in Africa from youth on into her adulthood, softball coaching, PTA, Girl Scouts of America (Yvonne led the very first world-wide prototype Daisy Girl Scout troop, known as Mini-Girl Scouts in that time, which she had named this prototype Troop #786), active Republican Party member, election poll worker, United States Pony Club and a Union local 53 member.

Yvonne thoroughly enjoyed traveling, league bowling and couponing in her spare time, always wanting to save a buck! One of her greatest fulfillments in life was the opportunity of ministry singing both on a Puyallup Christian radio program and singing with her siblings in local churches as a member of the Christian group “Second Generation”.

 

Yvonne medically retired from Washington State Western State Hospital. In her retirement, Yvonne enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren, doing ministry tasks for the homeless and a women’s Christian recovery home.

 

Yvonne was predeceased by her father Willis L. Bentley, mother Alice E. Bentley, sister Beverly Bentley and brother Willis (Larry) Bentley. She is survived by her three children, Lisa Richardson of Randle, WA, Eric Richardson (Jane) of Sun City West, Arizona and Kristen Richardson-Roberson (Shane) of Packwood, WA., eight grandchildren, Kayla, Joseph (J.D.), Skyler, Conner, Bailey, Merrit, Brianna, Faith, thirteen great grandchildren, many honorary grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her sisters Judith (Judy) White, Alice (Kay) Bentley, brother Willard (Bill) Bentley (Nancy), nieces, nephews and many cousins who loved her dearly.

 

Graveside service and burial will be held at Sumner Cemetery, Sumner, Washington on Friday July 28, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. Celebration of Life and buffet gathering at Station House 726, Puyallup, Washington at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Packwood or Randle Fire Departments. Donations can be made by mail to either district office or on the day of service in their desired fire district helmet of choice at the celebration of life gathering.