Professional Biography 1980 - Wayne State College, BA in Political Science with minors in German and Social Sciences. 1986 - University of Nebraska, College of Law, Juris Doctorate 2008 - Certificate of Education for Emerging Ministries, PLTS, Berkeley 1987-1988 - Associate at the law firm of Federal Judge Richard Kopf, Retired 1988-1989 - Legal Services of Southeast Nebraska (now Legal Aid of Nebraska) 1989-1991 - Elder Law Specialist, Lincoln Area Agency on Aging, Lincoln, NE 1991-1995 - Legal Services Developer for the Nebraska Department on Aging 1994-1995 - President of National Association of Legal Services Developers - active in developing the Elder Rights Title of the Older Americans Act 1995-2000 - Private practice, represented a young couple trying to adopt a child through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services -- https://www.poz.com/article/The-Parent-Trap-11209-9845 1995-Present -- Supervising Attorney for the South Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging 2000 - 2010 - Director of Justice and Advocacy Ministries for the Nebraska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Chuck in America 2004 - Present - Pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in rural Beatrice, Nebraska 2011-2020 -- Criminal Defense Attorney representing indigent people 2017 -- Graduate of 3-Week Course at TLC 2018 -- Graduate of Grad II at TLC 2019 -- Graduate of Grad 1 at TLC 2021-present -- Supervising Attorney at the Blue Rivers Area Agency on Aging 2023- present -- Owner of Bentjen ElderLaw and Legal Services, LLC