Joan Elizabeth Bentlage

The world lost a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Joan Elizabeth Womack Bentlage, 91, on June 26, 2026. She died peacefully at her home in Columbia, Missouri, surrounded by loved ones. Joan was born on December 28, 1934, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised in Natchez, Mississippi. She was a leader and communicator from an early age, graduating from Natchez High School in 1952, and earning a bachelor’s degree in religion from Southwestern College in Memphis in 1956, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and served as president of the senior honor society. Joan furthered her education at Washington State University and Yale Divinity School, earning an MA in Religion in 1959. She moved to Columbia, Missouri, to serve as a campus minister at the Presbyterian Church, where she met her husband Troy Bentlage. They shared 64 years of marriage, built a family, and traveled extensively. Joan was active in community service including roles as Cub Scout leader, Girl Scout leader, PTA member, and more. She is survived by her children Ken, Dave, and Margaret; grandchildren David, Troy, Brett, Blake, Caleb, Blaine, Grace, and Porter; seven great-grandchildren; extended family; and was preceded in death by her husband Troy, her parents, and granddaughter Whitney. Her legacy of wisdom, compassion, and inspiration lives on.