Sandra Bentlage

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Sandra Kay Bentlage of rural Seneca, Missouri passed from this life to eternal rest on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, surrounded by Family and Friends after a courageous battle against cancer. Sandra was born on
October 21, 1964, at Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage, Alaska.

 

After living in Illinois and Oklahoma, she and her family settled in Joplin in 1970. Sandra attended public school in Joplin graduating from Memorial High School in the Class of 1982. She then attended Bauder Fashion College in Dallas graduating in 1985 with an Associate of Arts Degree followed by attendance at the American College of Atlanta graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was employed in the retail clothing industry in Minneapolis, Tulsa, and Kansas City for several years before returning to Joplin. 

In 1999, Sandra was united in marriage to John Hathaway. Their marriage later ended in divorce. Sandra has continued to live in the Joplin area subsequently and has worked in property management and maintenance.

Sandra loved gardening, pets and landscaping. Her favorite projects were improving her home, making
unhealthy plants healthy again, adopting stray dogs and cats and spending time with her horses. She
was a Master Professional Gardener and loved flowers. 

She had many close, loyal friends who she was always willing to help in any way possible and who in turn helped her. Sandra was unintimidated when something wouldn’t work and tried to fix anything that was broken, often with success. She believed that with the proper tool anything could be made to function again, and she had tools for many situations. She loved her four dogs and three cats and two horses, and one of her greatest concerns during the latter part of her life was finding suitable homes for her pets.

Sandra was predeceased by her Mother, Clo Ann Bentlage, and by her two brothers, Steven and Scott
Bentlage. She is survived by her sister, Cheryl Bentlage, her father, Charles Bentlage, stepmother Sheila
Bentlage, stepbrother Kevin Mock, stepsister Kelly Bokay, all of Joplin, and nieces Taylor Harrell of San Diego and Whitney Hughes of Wentzville. Sandra will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Sandra and her Family extends special thanks to the personnel of Freeman Hospital, Freeman Cancer
Institute, Freeman Radiation Oncology and particularly to her friends Darlene Ramirez, Tammy Putnam, Jodie Briley, Kristen Withenshaw and Michelle Fry for the outstanding care provided to Sandra during her final illness.

Visitation will be held at Mason-Woodard Mortuary, 3701 East 7th Street, Joplin on Friday, October 9,
from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, October 10, at 10:00 AM at the same location with Reverend Charlie Landis officiating. Sandra has requested that the Service be a celebration of her life and has invited anyone who wishes to speak, be provided the opportunity to do so.

The Family requests that attendees wear masks and practice social distancing. A burial ceremony will follow at Osborne Cemetery in Joplin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Joplin Humane Society or Hope City
Church in Joplin in care of the Mortuary. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mason-Woodard
Mortuary.