Paul "Bear" E Bentrup
December 29, 1949 ~ August 24, 2025
Born in:
Mora, Minnesota
Resided in:
Fargo, North Dakota
Paul’s memorial service will be livestreamed and viewable below on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 10:00AM.
Paul Ernest Bentrup was born December 29th, 1949 in Mora, Minnesota to Edmund and Margaret Bentrup. The third son of six children, they moved often following the call of his father as a Lutheran Pastor. He graduated from Fisher High School in 1967 and graduated from Bemidji State College in 1971 with a degree in Chemistry.
Affectionately known by many as Bear, he lived a life full of adventure. In his college and early adult years he traversed the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. In 1975, he enlisted in the Navy attending Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Ensign in the fall of that year. He completed Nuclear Power School, served aboard the SSN Permit, and earned his dolphins. While serving he traveled the country and the world, experiencing new cities and cultures. In 1980, he moved to Kennewick, Washington and began his career in the civilian nuclear industry, working for Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) which later became Energy Northwest (EN), and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) doing interface work between EN and BPA. During his career he obtained his Senior Reactor Operator license and became a licensed Professional Engineer.
His biggest adventure began in 1981 when he married the love of his life, Karen (Sanderson) Bentrup. They had three children together that they raised to love the outdoors through camping and deep sea fishing. They taught them the importance of their education, spending countless hours at the dinner table helping with homework, how to repair anything from a dishwasher to the car, and most importantly how to share the love of Jesus Christ through serving others. In 2017, Bear retired to pursue his hobbies: camping, deep sea fishing, fly tying, lapidary interests, and traveling with Karen.
Throughout their time in Washington they gained many dear friends, who became extended family, and we are eternally grateful for the love, care, and support they showed especially in the last few years. In 2024, Bear and Karen moved to Fargo, North Dakota where they experienced the joy of being grandparents.
Bear was preceded in death by his parents, Edmund and Margaret Bentrup; and brothers, Richard and Tom Bentrup. He is survived by wife, Karen; children, Bryan Bentrup, Leah Bentrup, Traci (Jon) Sletmoe; grandsons, Magnus and Otto; extended family, Lin Bentrup, Mark (June) Bentrup, Mary (Ken) Wagner, John Bentrup, Lou Krohn, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends around the country.
We will miss his ever calm presence, wise council, and servant heart. We want to thank the many people who cared for Bear in his final years; first and foremost their Washington family, Solutions Health Care (Kennewick, WA), Griswold Health Care (Fargo, ND), Nizoni Health Care (Fargo, ND), VA Health Services (Walla Walla, WA and Fargo, ND). Your care was exceptional and we can never fully express our gratitude.
Honorary pallbearers-
Mark Bentrup, John Bentrup, Kenny Wagner, Jon Sletmoe, Bryan Bentrup, Daniel Henderson, Richard Hudson, John Dabney, and Paul Taylor
Please in lieu of flowers, make donations in memory of Bear Bentrup:
FRIENDS OF BWCA (BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA)
2550 University Ave W. 180S, St. Paul, MN. 55114
or online at: www.friends-bwca.org/memorial
Services
Visitation - Saturday: Saturday, September 6, 2025 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street S.
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
701-237-6441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
Memorial Service - Saturday: Saturday, September 6, 2025 10:00 am
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street S.
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
701-237-6441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
Thank you!
Very good memories spending time at Lutherhaven with you and Nancy. Thank you for the kind words. Karen
Thank you!
Thank you Christine we had wonderful adventures together
Bear was a rare exceptional human being. I had the pleasure to work with him in the early days of our civilian nuclear career. Back then we had a large group of transplants new to the Tri-Cities, from all over the country. Back then, it seemed like each week we faced new challenges at “WPPSS” and never had any guarantees that we’d finish the plant and have a job. Only those who went through those trying times together can truly appreciate how tough it was and how we all became a large family. Many of us were also ex-Navy “Nukes” so we also shared that unique bond as well. I can only imagine what an outstanding Nuclear Officer Bear would have been on his submarine. Regardless of what we are told, there really aren’t any schools or academies that develop the qualities of leadership that Bear had, they are born with it. Our WPPSS family lost a very good man in Bear…..RIP.
What a beautiful tribute to my husband. Thank you so much he had such wonderful friends at EN and Bonneville. Thank you! Karen
Bear was one in a million! My sincere condolences to you Karen and your family.❤️
Thank you Julie we had a special family in Tri Cities.
Big giant Bear,
Very Sorry for your loss. We missed you alot, when you went across the Fence.. I miss all the paperwork that you would bring into the Control Room. I miss setting beside you pulling Control Rods. I miss calling you on the phone, when you were in your office instead of being in the Control Room. I will miss talking to you in the Control Room and our Kitchen. I Hope that you are Happy. And I’m Sorry that I can’t come to your Celebration of Life, Because I have to go to my Ships Reunion in Reno and it’s along ways away.
Thank you enjoy your ships reunion! Karen
Thank you so much! Karen
Oh gosh Skip you have been a good friend for many years. He was a good teacher . We are blessed by our friendship. Thank you. Karen
Bear, you will be missed by all of us and so many more. Hugs and prayers to Karen and family.
Hi Carol – most of the nurses that worked with Bear the last couple years said the same thing about him. What a nice man he was and how he didn’t get mad or angry and he wasn’t afraid to teach them how he wanted to be cared for. Most of them wanted to come to our home to help care for him. Thank you. Karen
Donna we go back a long ways! You guys were some of the first people I met after we got married and we moved out to Tri Cities. I hope you are doing well. Thank you for commenting. Karen
Thank you Zach – hope you have a good school year! Bear would be proud of you pursuing fire fighting. Auntie Kay
Mr. Bear,we shared a lot of good memories together. From gatherings on Washington Street, license class, breakfast after church while the kids were in class. The salmon fishing on the river.rflecting on the wonderful times together. You made life”Better Than We Deserved “. You will be truly missed my friend. Rest in God’s peace now until we meet again.
Thank you doesn’t seem to be enough for everything you helped us with the last couple years. Good memories together that’s for sure.
It’s with great thanks to Karen for keeping us posted on the family each and every Christmas. The Bentrup’s card and update was always the first received. We will keep the Bentrup clan in our prayers and Bear always in our hearts.
Thank you Pat and Rich. It was so nice for Bear and you and Sales to touch base again. Thanks for taking the time to call him.
Thank you for your care and compassion for Bear.
Our love and concern for you, Karen and your family during this time of loss extends over the miles. We knew you long before you knew Bear, as you taught Becky how to love Dogs, espeavisly as you introduced her to Rags. Over the years, and through your mother, we learned about the great man you married. We will never forget the hospitality shown us as we left our motorhome in your driveway while we cruised to Alaska. We hope we can help bring comfort to you and your family on Saturday. We are so thankful that you have never forgotten us. Love Bev and Chuck Wolff
I really loved working with Paul he will be greatly missed such a wonderful man! Sorry for you loss karen
Devon we are grateful for the care you gave Bear . He enjoyed your company. Thank you for coming to his service it meant a lot.
Bear will be so missed. He was one of the kindest, wisest men that we had ever met. Our kindest wishes and prayers are with you and the rest of your family. Bear will be very missed!
Thank you for the love and care you showed Bear. You are appreciated.
My sincere condolences to you, Karen, and your family for the loss of your lovable “Bear.” The world is a much emptier place without his presence.
Since leaving the WPPSS family, I have traveled to many places and met thousands of people and I can assure you that I never met another “Bear”, either in name or personality. He was truly unique. He was great friend, teammate, husband, and, I’m sure father and family man.
Several tributes remarked about the WPPSS family, which really resonated with me because it is the only organization that I was a part of that made me feel that way. I believe that Papa Jim Kadinger was responsible for starting the WPPSS family. He insisted that no matter what a person’s resume contained, everyone in Unit 1 Operations had to fit in. We must get along. Wow! What a team he put together and “Bear” was everybody’s friend.
I noted that there have not been any entries in the timeline. So I am going to add a few. Stories about Bear and me that I have shared while on the road.
I noted the mention of caregiver support for Bear, which is something we all face as we enter the winter of our years. I pray that he was able to keep a quality of life to the end. I’m sure that he is now in a much better place. God bless, you Brother Bear!
Thank you Jon. Yes Kadinger put together a phenomenal team. I’m sure they are up there talking about it now. If you have email please contact me at bentrupkk@gmail.com.
Karen and family, so sorry to hear about Bears passing. You have been missed at Kennewick First Lutheran Church. When I think of you both you are such servants of others, Karen in your planning of trips to Lutherhaven and the quilt ministry. Bear was always so good with our young people, he was always there to help them earn money, he was so good in the kitchen. You will be missed. God bless your family.
Carol Hattemer
Thank you Carol
Thank you
Good bye bear.
Thank you Bill