Abilena Elsie Sullivan
Abilena Elsie (Bentz) Sullivan, 85, died May 3, 2022, at her home in Madras, Ore., surrounded by her loving family.
Abbie was born March 1, 1937, near Heil, N. Dak., to Jacob and Emma (Hintz) Bentz. She often told stories of growing up in and around Leith, N. Dak., running barefoot to the field to call in their cow “Lucy”, and long, snowy walks to school with her older brothers (Earhardt and Lawrence) protecting the younger kids from the blowing snow.
She graduated from Leith High in 1954, and then attended Dickinson State to begin a degree in education. After one year, she was qualified to teach in a rural, one-room schoolhouse with students K-8. The next eight years, she continued teaching in various places in North Dakota during the school years and going to college summers in Dickinson until 1962.
In 1962, she moved to Brookings, Ore., where she began teaching and met George Sullivan at a “Welcome Teachers” event sponsored by Brookings Jaycees. They began dating and soon were engaged. The Summer of 1963, she returned to North Dakota for her final summer of college for her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, minoring in PE and Music. George traveled to North Dakota that summer and they were married in Elgin, N. Dak.
She and George had two children, Colleen and Shaun. They moved to North Bend and then Coquille, Ore., where she continued to teach elementary school, especially enjoying her time teaching science and PE, and coaching intramural sports for kids. In 2000, she retired from teaching and she and George moved to Madras, Ore.
Abbie was very involved in the Lutheran Church wherever she lived, often teaching Sunday School and sometimes playing the piano and organ for church services. She continued to be an avid college basketball fan all her life, often making brackets for the NCAA Tournaments.
She is survived by her daughter Colleen (Brian) Fletcher-Collier, son Shaun (Caroline) Sullivan, granddaughter Jestina Sullivan and grandson Wyatt Sullivan; brother Ernst (Rosie) Bentz, sisters Ruth Mund, Twyla Schock, Karen (Tom) Kapla, and sister-in-law Lillian Bentz.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George, brothers Earhardt and Lawrence Bentz, brothersin-law Bill Mund and Clarence Schock, and sister-in-law Evy Bentz.
Abbie will especially be remembered for her kind, loving spirit and her one-of-a-kind hugs. A Celebration of
A Celebration of Life will be held on June 18, at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Madras, Ore.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Madras, Ore.