Oreta V. Bentsen, 88, died Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Doctor’s Hospital in Manteca, CA. She had been a resident of Seneca, KS for close to 70 years. In November 2010, she moved to California to live with her daughter.

She was born July 25, 1923 in Council Grove, KS, the daughter of Richard and Vera Breese. She attended a small country school near Beattie. She married Adrian Kramer in 1942 and they initially lived in Marysville, and later in Seneca. She was a homemaker until her children were older and then worked various jobs in the area.

On October 25, 1975 she married John O. “Jack” Bentsen in Seneca. Jack preceded her in death on July 11, 2000.

Oreta loved car racing. Every week during the season she and Jack would go to the races in Beatrice to watch their nephew race the track. She diligently watched all the NASCAR races. She also had a lifelong love of reading.

Survivors include a son, Alan Kramer and wife Betty of Leavenworth, KS; a daughter, Kathy Warren and husband Barry of French Camp, CA; two step-daughters, Patricia “Peg” Bentsen and Elaine Bentsen, both of Seneca; a step-son, Gerald Bentsen of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada; five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and four step-great grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Adrian Kenneth Kramer on December 24, 1943; three brothers, Lynn, Lewis and Kenneth Breese; and two sisters, Thelma Hembree and Lucille Foster.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church in Seneca. A vigil prayer service will be held at Lauer Funeral Home with burial at Sts. Peter & Paul Church Cemetery in Seneca, both at a later date.

Memorials may be given for the Seneca Public Library, and sent in care of the family.