Raymond Frank Bentele
Raymond “Ray” F. Bentele, 89, died May 31, 2026. He resided in Town and Country and also wintered on Captiva and Sanibel islands, Florida. He is survived by his dear and loving wife, Deborah (nee Koons) Bentele of 25 years; his daughter Denise Bentele of Creve Coeur; son Douglas Bentele (Karin) of Kirkwood; five grandchildren: Mary Sabrina (nee Bentele) (Josh) Rakoff; Madeline Heintz; Alexander Bentele; Meredith Heintz and Sophia Bentele; as well as his sister Carolyn (Jerry) Snidow of St. Peters, Missouri; as well as many loved nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Bentele, the mother of his children, and by his son, Daniel Bentele. Also, brothers Kenneth Bentele, Norbert Bentele, Ronald Bentele, and Leo Bentele, and sisters Reta Bentele Cupp, Mildred Bentele Chambers, and Elizabeth Bentele Lowe.
He was born on November 22, 1936, on the family’s small farm in Macon County, Missouri. He was the son of Albert Bentele and Dorothy (Modglin) Bentele. His early schooling was in a one-room schoolhouse that required a four-mile walk each way. Later, after the family moved to the town of Macon, he attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School, graduated from Macon High School in 1954, and from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) in 1960, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting. He was the first member of his family to attend college.
After high school, he enlisted in the US Army during the Korean conflict. He already had two brothers serving there, so he was sent to Germany, where he was stationed for 2.5 years as part of Cold War defenses near the border with East Germany. While overseas, he graduated from the Seventh Army Non-Commissioned Officers Academy in Munich. Immediately after his discharge from the Army in 1957, he enrolled in college.
Upon graduation from college, he joined the accounting firm S.D. Leidesdorf in their St. Louis office. Leidesdorf eventually merged with Ernst & Ernst, later becoming Ernst & Young. After leaving Leidesdorf in 1965, he became Chief Financial Officer of Germania Savings and Loan in Alton, Illinois. In 1967, he joined Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, where he was responsible for financial planning and analysis, marking the start of a 26-year career with the company.
His career at Mallinckrodt included many management positions, from finance to leading operating groups, culminating in his appointment as President and Chief Operating Officer, followed by his role as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.
His principal operating experience was running the international business, which, under his leadership, grew dramatically from a small export business to operations based in Canada, most European countries, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and Australia.
The company came under unfriendly takeover attempts, as Mallinckrodt was highly prized by many companies seeking to enter the specialty chemicals and medical products industries. The company had enjoyed spectacular growth in sales and earnings for twenty consecutive years and thus was an inviting target. After a vigorous and lengthy defense to remain independent, the company negotiated a merger with Avon Products Company, delivering the highest value to Mallinckrodt shareholders. This began a decade-long struggle to survive and keep the company intact through several owners.
Avon’s business prospects began to dim as the door-to-door cosmetics business fell on hard times. At the same time, Mallinckrodt continued to experience excellent growth, owing chiefly to new diagnostic products it invented, which required expansion capital that Avon was unable to provide. Hence, in 1985, Avon’s board decided to sell Mallinckrodt. Ray attempted to arrange a buyout, but the company was acquired by International Minerals and Chemicals (IMC) of Chicago, which later renamed itself IMCERA. Once again, the parent company struggled to survive as the fertilizer business deteriorated, which led to a reorganization and several dispositions. Aga, during this time, Mallinckrodt continued to prosper. Eventually, IMCERA was absorbed into Mallinckrodt, and the entire company was relocated to St. Louis, achieving an important goal of his: to re-establish headquarters here.
At that time, Ray chose to retire and turned the leadership of the company over to Ray Holman as his successor.
In addition to the Mallinckrodt Board of Directors, Ray served on several Boards pre- and post-retirement, including Avon Products, International Minerals and Chemicals, IMCERA, IMC Global Inc., Kellwood Company, Leggett & Platt, Inc., Boatmen’s Bank, Centerre Bank, The Mosaic Company, AMCON Distributing Company, and Summit Marketing.
His professional affiliations included the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; the Financial Executives Institute of America; the Corporate Assembly of Blue Cross and Blue Shield; the Chemical Manufacturers Association; and the American Institute of Chemists.
His past community service included; Board of Trustees and Chair of Audit and Finance Committees of Washington University in Saint Louis; Director of St. Luke’s Hospital; Director and Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the 1985 annual fund drive of the United Way of St. Louis; Director, Commissioner, co-chair of the annual fund drive and recipient of the Silver Beaver Award of Boy Scouts of America; Ranken Technical College trustee; Civic Progress of St. Louis; Director of Backstoppers; Trustee of St. Louis Art Museum; Trustee of Saint Louis University; Director and chair of annual fund drive in 1984 of the Arts and Education Council of St. Louis; and director of Missouri Research Park.
He established scholarship funds at Truman State University and Washington University. H is a member of the Bogey Club in St. Louis.
For several years after retirement, he owned and operated a farm in Pike County, Missouri, where he enjoyed working outdoors and maintained a substantial vegetable garden from which he generously shared the harvest with friends.
Hunting and fishing were great joys in his life, particularly when he could share them with his son and grandson. He did big-game hunting on safaris in Africa; upland game shooting in the UK, South Dakota, Argentina, and Spain; and fishing in Alaska, Canada, and many other destinations. Golfing trips with gentlemen friends and wine tours with close friends provided great fun and memories. Traveling to many countries with his wife, Debbie, was especially a great joy. Among their final trips were a trip to Israel in 2022 and a trip to western Canada for their 25th wedding anniversary in 2025.
Here is the full obituary.