Published: 7/30/04

Saranac — Melissa E. Giventer Bentoski, 25, died Wednesday, June 30, 2004.

Survivors include her husband of nearly two years, Mark Alan Bentoski, USAF and son Austin Alexander Bentoski, Hampton, Va.; her father, Curt (Metalman) Giventer and his wife Treza of Saranac; her mother, Carol Ekelund Young of Gloversville; three brothers, Curt Giventer Jr. of Staten Island and Cody and Josey Champagne of Saranac; grandmother Mildred Giventer, great-grandpa Sam and uncle Barney Giventer, all from New Jersey; great-uncle John Nuzzo of Staten Island; four aunts, Terry and husband Larry Moran, Mimi Ekelund, Barbra Ekelund, Nancy and husband Joe Dolan; uncle Gus Ekelund and his wife Susan; five cousins; and her special horse, Hollywood.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Gustav and Teresa Ekelund of Great Kills, Staten Island.

On July 3, 2004, a funeral service was held at Langley Air Force Base, Hampton, Va., at the main chapel with chaplain Christian Biscotti officiating.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2004, at the Dannemora Methodist Church at 2 p.m. followed by the committal service at the Saranac Independence Cemetery with pastor Ken Davis officiating.

We welcome our many friends and family to join us for a gathering of food and drink at our home on Route 3, Saranac, following the services in celebration of our daughter Melissa's life.

The O'Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ticonderoga and Saugerties — James Patrick "Butch" Gunning, 60, of Saugerties and formerly of Ticonderoga, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, July 28, 2004, in Ticonderoga.

Born in Ticonderoga on Oct. 25, 1943, he was the son of the late Leonard H. "Tickle" Gunning and Marion E. (Blakely) Gunning Porter.

Butch was a great athlete and was a member of Ticonderoga's Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1961, he joined the U.S. Marines and served four years. Subsequently, he earned a bachelor of science degree from Ithaca State College and taught science for several years in the Kingston, N.Y., area.

He married Pamela Christie Wilson on Aug. 26, 1972. They raised their family in the Kingston area.

Recently retired from Metropolitan Life of Kingston, Butch was an avid golfer and was working part time at the Ticonderoga Country Club at the time of his death.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Pamela C. (Wilson) Gunning; one son, Lance Cpl. Kyle W. Gunning, U.S. Marine Corp., stationed at Washington, D.C.; three daughters, Casey M. Gunning of Glasco, Andrea B. Gunning of Kingston and Rebecca H. Gunning of Colorado; four brothers, Michael J. Gunning of Crown Point, Richard J. Gunning of Newtonville, Peter H. Gunning of Corinth and Thomas H. Gunning of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church of Crown Point. The Rev. William G. Muench, pastor, will officiate.

The Rite of Committal will take place at a later date at the family plot of the Valley View Cemetery of Ticonderoga.

Plattsburgh — Mr. Hal W. St. Denis, 53, of Mason Drive, Plattsburgh, died suddenly Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Plattsburgh on April 5, 1951, the son of Floyd and Gloria (Guay) St. Denis. Hal and his wife, Carol, owned and operated St. Denis Grocery on Cornelia Street. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and was a street rod enthusiast and owned two rods.

Hal was predeceased by his parents, Floyd and Gloria St. Denis.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Carol (Arlt) St. Denis of Plattsburgh; two daughters, Tammy L. (St. Denis) Kirk and her husband Ronald D. of Plattsburgh and Shelly St. Denis and her companion Nathan O'Hara of Plattsburgh; a sister, Terri Winterbottom and her husband Marty of Plattsburgh; a brother, Bruce St. Denis and his wife Donna of Plattsburgh; a sister, Joyce Columbe of Massena; two grandchildren, Cameron M. St. Denis and Tanner W. St. Denis of Plattsburgh; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours and funeral arrangements will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Interment will be at St. Peter's Cemetery.

Arrangements are by the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

To contact the Press-Republican, Phone: (518) 561-2300 or send mail to:
Press-Republican, 170 Margaret St., P.O. Box 459, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Copyright 2004, Plattsburgh Publishing Co., Plattsburgh, NY,  Division of Ottaway Newspapers, Inc., Campbell Hall, NY. The information you receive from Press-Republican Online is protected by the copyright laws of the United States. The copyright laws prohibit any copying, redistributing, retransmitting, or repurposing of any copyright-protected material.