MIDLAND, TX- Bente Sorensen Ditlev, 88, of Midland, Texas passed away July 24, 2018 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Bente was born in Hvilsager Denmark on August 21, 1929 to Marius and Inger Sorensen.  She studied and worked as a nanny and a baker's assistant before she married Jens Peter Ditlev in Aarhus, Denmark in 1950.  Bente and Peter immigrated to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1955 and together they raised 6 children and were married for 68 years. Bente was a homemaker who cherished her family and her Danish heritage. Once a Dane, always a Dane.

She is survived by her husband Jens Peter Ditlev of Rapid City, SD, sons Lars Ditlev of Mukilteo, WA, and Alan Ditlev of Hurst, TX, daughters Lisa Ditlev of Salt Lake City, UT, Linda Kozora of Spokane, WA, and Lena Schultz of Flower Mound, TX. She has 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren whom she adored. She was preceded in death by her daughter Susan Ditlev of Santa Rosa, CA.

Bente will be remembered for her deep commitment to her family. She loved to laugh.  Bente enjoyed cocktail hour, her ciggies and a game of gin rummy.  She loved coffee, babies, birds and butter. She loved creating handmade treasures and giving them away.  She loved to do her victory dance when she won a card game with her sly spades skills.  She loved to tell stories, sing Danish songs and be hyggelig with her family.

Bente was very loved by her family and she will be missed by everyone whose life she touched.

Her life will be celebrated at a time to be determined and she will ultimately be laid to rest in her beloved homeland Denmark.