Радиотерапевт Майо Клиник из Рочестера совмещает лечение онкобольных с созданием ювелирных изделий и музыкой

As a radiation therapist at Mayo Clinic, Mike Bentele works hard to treat patients suffering from cancer, but his dedication to patients doesn’t stop him from being creative. Aside from his work in healthcare, Bentele plays guitar with Clay Fulton & The Lost Forty, and creates silver and turquoise jewelry for his Lucky Star Trading Co. Bentele moved to Rochester in 2011 to begin his new adventure with Mayo Clinic. “Being a part of the radiation oncology team stood out to me because I wanted to help people during a challenging time in their lives and wanted to work with medical technology,” he says. “Our department is full of amazing people who truly care about others and go above and beyond to help patients and their families.” ADVERTISEMENT In his work as a radiation therapist, Bentele is part of a team including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physicists and dosimetrists. The team creates custom immobilization devices that help keep patients still during their scans and treatments. Using CT scans of patients in these positions, complex, custom treatment plans are developed. Bentele runs the equipment to image, align and treat patients with radiation. While Bentele’s work at Mayo Clinic is important and fulfilling, he also enjoys the creativity involved in making music and jewelry. His early love of music was nurtured by parents who bought him a beat up Slingerland drum kit at a rummage sale. “It was magic to me,” he says. “I became interested in guitar when my oldest brother Robert bought a Telecaster, and I'd play it when he was out of the house. Writing songs and attempting to sing didn't come until later in college.” Bentele taught himself to play guitar and sing by playing along with his favorite records. Over the years, he’s played with performers like Jeff Kelly, Faith Boblett, Als Fona and Winterstate, but his main musical endeavor is playing guitar with the Rochester-based band Clay Fulton & The Lost Forty. “I joined Clay's band in 2021, after his first record was complete, and he was looking for a new guitarist. My dear friend Peter, who was already Clay's keyboard player, told me to audition and we all meshed right away,” explains Bentele. Writing music with Clay Fulton & The Lost Forty is a joy for Bentele. He describes his five bandmates as some of the sweetest people he knows. “There is a tremendous amount of mutual admiration, trust and friendship between us,” he says. “We have had many incredible opportunities and have shared a lot of fun experiences together as a band and as friends. Clay Fulton is such a wonderful songwriter and person, and we have had the absolute privilege of writing parts for his beautiful songs, to shape them into versions for the full band.” As part of The Lost Forty, Bentele has had the opportunity to play iconic Minnesotan venues like the 7th St Entry in Minneapolis and the Turf Club in St. Paul. He’s also performed with the band at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. “One of our favorite accomplishments has been starting our very own Heading Up North Festival, here in Rochester,” says Bentele. “It is a celebration of music hosted by The Lost Forty. Our second annual Heading Up North Festival will be on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Historic Chateau Theater.” He adds, “To me, music is one of the most special parts of life. It has always been a comfort to me and is usually the first thing I turn to when I have a free moment or when I need to work through something within myself.” ADVERTISEMENT While Bentele deeply enjoys music, he’s also found that making jewelry is another creative passion. “I've always enjoyed how jewelry can help tell a person's story,” he says. “It can be a form of self-expression, bring back memories of a loved one or be a reminder of where you've been.” Bentele credits his brother John with sparking his interest in making silver and turquoise jewelry. After unsuccessfully searching for a specific style of ring, his brother suggested he should just make the ring himself. “This got my wheels turning,” he says. “Soon after I started buying tools and began learning how to silversmith.” In April 2025, Bentele started his Lucky Star Trading Co as an outlet to sell his jewelry. His jewelry is made primarily from sterling silver and turquoise mined in North America, though it does include other metals and stones from around the world. His jewelry blends Americana, vintage and classic styles. The jewelry is handmade with fire and anvil. Bentele designs his jewelry around the stones that he sets. “I make a lot of rings, earrings, and pendants, but look forward to making cuffs and learning some casting techniques.” As he works on his jewelry, he saws, files, sands, solders and stamps to create unique designs. Currently, Bentele sells his jewelry at Threshold Arts on South Broadway in downtown Rochester. He also sells his jewelry at makers markets like the Winter Market at the Chateau Theater and the Great River Folk Festival in LaCrosse. “I love making jewelry as a form of self-expression,” says Bentele. “Designing each piece, branding the business, and creating logos are all very fun and gives me another way to use my creative energy. Making jewelry can be very challenging, and I enjoy learning new techniques and sharpening my skills. I love the idea of creating something that someone might wear for years to come or pass down to a loved one.” While his more creative endeavors serve as positive and productive escapes, Bentele sees his music, jewelry making and work as a radiation therapist complementing each other. “Each of these areas require a lot of attention to detail, repetition and the ability to work through challenges,” he says. “They all provide an important balance to my life.” ADVERTISEMENT