Obituary of Thorleif J. Berntsen

North River Thorleif Joseph Berntsen, 90, of Island Heights, NJ, formerly of North River, passed away at his home. Mr. Berntsen was born in Brooklyn on September 3, 1916. He married Marian Agnes Antons on December 6, 1941, the couple was married for nearly 65 years. He was employed for Binney and Smith Inc., makers of Crayola Crayons, for 41 years before retiring as Manager of Data Processing. Thorleif was a charter member of the Zion Lutheran Quartet, winner of the Staten Island Borough Ballad Contest under the name of Weissglass Gold Seal Milkmen Quartet. The quartet performed at Yankee Stadium 7th Inning Stretch and sang Together for more than 20 years. He currently attended the First United Methodist Church of Island Heights, NJ and was a member of North Creek United Methodist Church, where he and his wife resided for 12 years before moving to Island Heights, NJ. He is survived by his wife Marian Berntsen; four daughters, Annette Gardner, Beatrice Jay, Carol Fosdick and Dorothy Eterginoso; a sister, Marilyn Berntsen Zamoyta; a brother, Carl Berntsen; and eight grandchildren, Matthew and Jonathan Runquist, Ralph Gardner, Alison and Eric Jay, Arianne and Josie Fosdick and Rylee Eterginoso. Mr. Berntsen was predeceased by a brother Arthur Berntsen, and granddaughters, Meegan Fosdick and Chelsea Eterginoso. Funeral services were held on Friday in Island Heights, NJ. Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 11am on Monday, October 30, 2006 at the North River Cemetery, North River. Visit www.alexanderfuneralhomes.com for online guest book and condolences.