Irene Bentzin, 91, of Austin, died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, at Mayo Clinic Health System – Austin. Our beloved and beautiful mother took her final breath and bid us goodbye one last time.

Irene Harriet Bagley was born Sept. 25, 1922, in a farm house near Blooming Prairie, Minn.; the daughter of Ralph and Randina (Sacquitne) Bagley. On June 1, 1946, she was united in marriage to Lowell Bentzin in Austin. The couple lived in Mapleview, Minn., most of their married life, raising seven children. Lowell died on May 31, 1985. Irene worked in housekeeping at the Austin Hotel for seven years and for 14 years at St. Olaf Hospital, retiring on June 14, 1988. She was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Irene sang in a quartet when she was young and enjoyed music and singing her entire life. Her greatest joys were growing up on the farm and being with her children and grandchildren. Irene was at her happiest when surrounded by her family. She taught us the meaning of the word family and what it means to always have each other in good times and bad. Mom, we loved you so much and with broken hearts we say goodbye for now. You did a great job. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Survivors include six daughters: Linda (Mike) Linehan, of Eau Claire, Wis.; Kathy  Kroening (Chip Grey), of Mound; Betty (David) Wytaske and Candy (Mike) Rector, all of Mapleview; Rosanne Esse, of Waconia; and Jackie (Brad) Williamson, of Albert Lea; 18 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jeanette Thomas, of Austin; and Ramona (Mahlon) Plowman, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bill and Iva Bentzin, of Stillwater, Minn.; several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Randina Bagley; husband, Lowell; son, Denny Bentzin and two sons-in-law, Paul Kroening and John Esse.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with Pastor Bill Odermann, officiating. Interment will follow the service in Oakwood Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, at the Worlein Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.