Surnames: Bentley, Woods, Schmickley, Bowman, Sparrowk Laura Ellen Bentley, 77, a resident of The Dalles, died at a Portland hospital on Tuesday, April 2, 2002. She was born March 8, 1925, in Council, Idaho, the only child to Paul E. and Almira (Woods) Schmickley. She grew up in Parkdale, Oregon and graduated from Hood River (Oregon) High School in 1943. She married Ronald Bowman and they lived in Portland and later in Baker City (Oregon), where Laura owned a dog grooming business. She moved to The Dalles in the mid 1970's and continued dog grooming. She married Ralph Gardner Bentley on October 28, 1979, and they together were very active in the community. The Bentley's formed an organization called "Concerned Oregonians" a group created to stop the Rajneesh's political take over of Wasco County in the early 1980's. They went door to door registering and encouraging citizens to vote during the 1984 election. They endured slurs, harassment and threats of violence and abuse from the Rajneesh. They also were active in the "Save the 4th Street Elm Tree" project in the late 1980's. Laura was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, bonsai, house birds, wild birds, raising Koi (fish), flower arranging and crafts. She is survived by her husband, Ralph Bentley, The Dalles; her daughter, Sherry Ronette Sparrowk and her husband, Dwain, of Sequim, Washington and her son, Michael Carl Bowman, Baker City (Oregon). Viewing visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 9, at Smith Callaway Chapel from 9 a.m. to noon with funeral services at 1:00 p.m., with Pastor David Ballard officiating. Interment will be at Indian Valley Cemetery in Indian Valley, Idaho. Memorials may be made to Wasco County Historical Museum, 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles, Oregon 97058. The Dalles Chronicle April 7, 2002 Written permission to reprint obituary given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, Oregon. Copied and submitted by Earline Wasser