At 3:15PM today our precious Father returned to his Lord. He was surrounded by his eternal wife, all of his children, grandchildren, his mother and sister. We will miss him dearly even though we are so grateful that he is out of pain. The past couple of days have been so hard for him. WE LOVE YOU FATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for all of your support the past 50+ days. Please understand that today we would like to just be with our family and celebrate our Perfect Father's life...
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this difficult time but we know that you are comforted by the gospel in knowing that someday you will see him again. May the Lord bless you and keep you always.....The Wilkos
ReplyDeleteDear Bengtzen Family,,
ReplyDeleteour thoughts are with you during this difficult time. We are saddened at the loss of dear Gary, yet our hearts rejoice that he has returned to the loving arms of his Father in Heaven and Savior. I can't imagine the joyous reunion on the other side of the veil. His spirit is free from a body that no longer worked for him.
What a wonderful husband, father, son, uncle, neighbor, mentor and friend he was to all. He was a true follower of the Savior.
We love each of you more than words can express. May the Lord and bless and comfort each of you at this time.
God Bless you now and always,
Your forever friend,
Tammy Miller
Wishing peace and love to your family! So glad we got to be apart of Friday night. What an amazing family you have!
ReplyDeletethe Denison family
Raynee - I love you dear friend. My heart is full, Janet
ReplyDeleteSweet Raynee,
ReplyDeleteWe have followed this blog faithfully since it started and are so saddened by the loss of your sweetheart today. Heaven sure gained a precious spirit. We have been and will continue praying for you and your sweet children, grandchildren and other family that you all might be strengthened, comforted, buoyed up and blessed as you face each difficult moment ahead.
We love you and have been taught and uplifted by the hope and faith and goodness you've exhibited through this journey.
With tenderness, tears and lots of love,
Annie Karren and family
Dear Bengtzen family,
ReplyDeleteWe are so sorry to hear of Gary's passing, but we are comforted to know that he is now at peace and free from pain. Your faith and dedication to family throughout this ordeal has been truly remarkable and serves as an example for us all. May you find peace at this difficult time.
Trent and Teresa Cockayne
Raynee, You are an amazing lady surrounded by a great family. May God bless you for your faith and example through this most difficult time.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and prayers are with you all. I am so sorry for your loss. Raynee my heart goes out to you, I don't know exactly how you feel at this time, but I do know the pain of losing your eternal companion. But he is your eternal companion and that is what gets you through this sad time in your life. You have a great family and you are so lucky to have them They will be make you happy and make life a joy again. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. Gary is a wonderful man and will be greatly missed by alot of people. If there is anything I can do for you, just let me know. I would so like to be of some help. Love you all.
ReplyDeleteLeslie M
No words can express the love I feel for you, Gary, and your kids. I am so sorry.
ReplyDeleteLove, Marti
Sorry :'(
ReplyDeleteBengtzen's
ReplyDeleteGod bless we love you all!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Gary is free of pain and in the arms of our Savior, his long time friend!
Leland and Bunny Myers
Gary was a great man and was a true saint he was always so happy and is one of the few people i know that has a true gift for making people feel special. Gary and Raynee are so beutiful toghether gary is with is father now and is meeting is hevenly father now my prayers are with you. I love you gary - Alex Miller
ReplyDeleteSweet Bengtzen family. You have been in our prayers. Brother Bengtzen was an incredible man and example to us personally and to our family. He was instrumental in our family going to the Temple.
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy we had the opportunity to have you as neighbors and family friends.
Even as we are experiencing Cancer at this time in our lives, and are walking the line between this existence and the next. We feel blessed. Thank you for sharing your blog, and a glimpse into your wonderful family.
Lots of Love, prayers and thoughts coming your way,
Cori & Jeremie Saville
Gary was a great man and was a true saint he was always so happy and is one of the few people i know that has a true gift for making people feel special. Gary and Raynee are so beutiful toghether gary is with his hevenly father now and is meeting his savior. My prayers are with you. I love you gary - Alex Miller
ReplyDeleteDear Raynee,
ReplyDeleteAll our love to you and your children. We will miss Gary and his wonderful spirit. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May our Heavenly Father surround you with His love and peace.
Love Alan and Carol
Dear Aunt Raynee,
ReplyDeleteI love you and Uncle Gary so very much. I am so sorry for your loss of just a wonderful man. I know he is at peace and I hope you are too.
Love, Lauren Bengtzen
My Dear Friends,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for this difficult time for your family. My heart is so full and saddened by the loss of this incredible man. He was so dear to me as are you all. We will continue to pray for you all as you face the days without him.
Love Linda, Larry, JR and Alex
Our Love and thoughts are with you Raynee and with your whole family. We pray for peace and comfort to be with you.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janet & Larry Madison
Dear Bentgzen family...
ReplyDeleteYou are in our thoughts and prayers! We love you. We feel your sorrow at losing such a great husband, father & son! We will miss him greatly, but his legacy will live on his in wonderful family.
Love,
Sharleen & Teresa
My sincerest condolences to your family. You're in my families thoughts today
ReplyDeleteOur deepest condolences, Bengtzen family.
ReplyDeleteWunderli Family
Belmont, MA
Our thoughts are with your family. Gary will be missed greatly but he is no longer suffering or in pain. It is hard to be left behind but with your knowledge you know that you will see him again. We love you all. Love Ryan and Andrea
ReplyDeleteChris, Raynee and the rest of the Family,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for you loss. Your are such a wonderful family and that is because of the amazing example and eternal dedication of Gary and Raynee. I pray that the spirit is with you all providing comfort and peace with an eternal perspective throughout this challenging time.
Your friends,
David and Mandi Cromar
Raynee,
ReplyDeleteTrav and I love you so much. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this bittersweet time. Thank you so much for letting us stop by Friday afternoon. It was a sweet experience to visit with you and Gary, two people who Travis loves very much. Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
Love,
Mary and Travis Bailey
"The spirits of the just are exalted to a greater and more glorious work; hence they are blessed in their departure to the world of spirits. Enveloped in flaming fire, they are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and motions." - Joseph Smith
ReplyDeleteGary is back watching over his family once again.
Today my friend is free.
Danny
Raynee,
ReplyDeleteMy heart is full of empathy for you and your family. Thank you for sharing this trial through Gary's blog. You now have your eternal sweetheart in heaven and also very near to help you all in ways we don't understand. We will continue to keep you in our prayers because you will need prayers in the quiet times and challenging times ahead. May you be blessed with sweet peace of heart, mind and spirit. Love, Karol Jean & Scott Miller
Raynee and Family, We wish you peace and hope your memories of all the happy times help to give you some solace In your grief today and In the coming days ahead. Take care of yourselves and know that you are loved. Gary's presence will continue to whisper softly and you will know he is just a breath away, watching over you all.
ReplyDeleteWith our deepest sympathy,
Tami and Pete Harlow, Elaine Fitzsimmons
Raynee,
ReplyDeleteKnow that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I am so grateful that I know you and Gary. I am truly a better person because of your great examples. I love you both very much!!! I'm glad that Gary is out of pain but I will miss him dearly.
I love you so much my second mom!!
Love, Chelsea (Aitken) Walker
T.J. and I are so sorry for your loss. But we know that Gary is in a much better place now. I am so glad that you were all able to be there as a family with Gary as he left this earth to continue his life and mission with our Lord and Savior. What an amazing family you are!
ReplyDeleteLove
Bethany
Goodbye, Bro.
ReplyDelete'till we meet again.
Tim
Dear Bengtzen Family,
ReplyDeleteAt times like this......there don't seem to be adequate words. I got a text from my BFF (ray nee) and I broke into tears. I am amongst the many who thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this blog with us. You have indeed honored your parents throughout this experience and it has been inspirational to witness.
I love your mom more than you could ever know. I thirst to be near her because I always learn so much and I love how she handles life. There is nobody like her or Gary. I count myself among many others who feel lucky to have known Gary and his wonderful legacy.
I lost my mother when she was 60 to cancer as well. I have an idea of what you are feeling and you will all continue to be in my prayers. Gary will be close to you....of thatni am sure.
May God bless you now and in the days ahead.
With deepest love and respect,
DeeDee Fox
Sending love to the entire Bengtzen Family - - Once again, you have been incredible examples to all of us in so many ways. This difficult journey of watching this incredible man, along with his sweet loving wife and great children, has shown us how to laugh, cry, fight, accept, but especially love in an eternal perspective. May you know how much each of us have grown though your generous allowance of sharing this journey with you and our beloved Gary and Raynee. You are all incredible. Knowing Gary is now free to again watch over his precious family is a blessing to us all. Ron and Karin Fife and Family
ReplyDeleteDear Raynee,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about Gary, I wish that you did not have to go through the experience of losing him by your side. I know that you are full of faith and trust in the Lord, I know that you will face this with a smile and faith, but I am so very sorry and will miss him so much. I am so grateful that I had the privilege of knowing you and Gary and I have been SO blessed by you both. You and your Family have been and will continue to be in our prayers. And I mean it! I love you SO much, and in my heart I'm giving you a big, big hug. I hope that you, your children, and grandchildren are filled with peace, good memories of Gary and that you continue to feel of his love and spirit during this time. I love you Bengtzen Family!
Love Erin
We love you all so much! Thank you for such a great example of love and faith. What an incredible blessing to know you will all be together again.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Kisses
The Johnsons
Dearest Raynee and family--I'm so sorry to hear that you have lost such an amazing husband and father. Your blog has been truly inspirational to so many and it has been wonderful to watch your family so admirably and gracefully prepare for this end of life experience together.
ReplyDeletePlease know that we will continue to pray for strength and peace of mind in the days ahead.
Your cousins, Deena and Dave
Michael Morrise sends his condolences from Taiwan. He received word by e-mail and wrote back immediately.
ReplyDeleteDuring this time of numbing sorrow we join the many who send love and wishes of strength for the days to come. Love, Lisa and Kirsten and Tim
Dear Raynee and all Bengtzens,
ReplyDeleteGary's kindness and consideration is evident even in his way of leaving: there was time enough for goodbyes and celebration, despite his pain -- even waiting for Caitlin. Then he vanished like the Lone Ranger, leaving us all in awe.
Thank you for sharing so intimately with us. You become his legacy and are legend, just as you are.
On the many morrows, may you arise in peace with his spirit lingering near.
Gloria
Dear Raynee and the rest of the Bengtzens,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss at this time. I know this is a difficult time for you and I pray that the Lord bless all of you through this and that those blessings continue past this. I was considering posting on here my goodbye to Gary but after a long thought of what I really wanted to say I finally realized that goodbye is really not the way I wanted it to be said because it is so final. Rather I want to say See You Soon on the other side of the veil. And as one of my favorite Hymns says "God be with you till we meet again,
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Smite death’s threat’ning wave before you,
God be with you till we meet again". Gary was a man who walked with Christ in his heart at all times during the time that I knew him and I know that he was that way long before I met him. While I am saddened by his passing I am thankful that the suffering he has had to endure the last several weeks of his life is over. He is now free to continue his great works in the presence of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and he will now be able to watch over his Wife, Children, Grandchildren, Nieces and Nephews in was not possible while he was here. May God Bless and Comfort Raynee and the rest of the Bengtzen Family at this time. You will all be in my prayers this evening.
Brett
It makes me feel so sad to read about Elder Bengtzens passing. He was a great man and he touched many lifes. I am so grateful I had the chance to know him.
ReplyDeleteSister Bengtzen I love you so much and hope you can have the peace you need in this time. I imagine it is really hard right now but remember he is your husband for time and eternity and nobody will change that.
My parents send you all their love. We were talking about you yesteday and my mom told me she was so grateful with you two for all the support you gave in France. That year wouldn't have been the same without your love and friendship.
I wish I could be there for the funeral but it is so hard right now with a newborn baby. Please be sure that my thoughts and prayers have been with you all this time.
Love you!!!!