Everett Judson Bentley was born on May 20, 1915 in Kalkaska, Michigan. His parents were Frances (Getty) and Harry Everett. Both of his parents were of Scotch-Irish heritage.

His family moved to Hancock in Michigan's upper peninsula where he lived in an apartment with his mother after his father left the family. The apartment was destroyed by fire in February of 1923.

In 1933, Jud graduated from Hancock Central High School and then attended the Michigan College or Mining and Technology (now Michigan Technological University) in nearby Houghton. His degree was granted in 1940.

He took a job at a paper mill in Park Falls, Wisconsin and on January 25, 1941 married Mary Churchill Sheldon in Duluth, Minnesota.

The had three children:

1. Stephen Judson Bentley

2. Barbara N. Bentley (1946-2019)

3. Nancy Jane Bentley

Jud served in the U.S. Navy starting in February, 1942 at the beginning of World War II. He saw action in both the European and Pacific theaters before being discharged in October of 1945.

From 1945 to 1975, he worked for Reserve Mining Company in Minnesota. They moved back to Hancock where Mary died on May 4, 1984.

Jud died on December 6, 1996 in Hancock at the age of 81.