John Louis Berntsen, 54, died 18, September, 1999 at his home in Monterey, California, of a heart attack.Lou was born May 6, 1945 in Pocatello, Idaho, the 2nd son of John R. and Ellen S. Berntsen. Lou was a member of the LDS Church, attended Westmore Elementary, Lincoln Jr. High, and graduated from Orem High School in 1963. He attended BYU and the U of U.

Lou married Elizabeth Allen in 1968. He worked in the Allen Family Photo Shop, "Allen's Photo". He was a sales agent/developer with Bob Allen Realty, directing several major housing developments in the Provo/Orem area. Lou and Liz were the parents of two children, John Knight and Coventry (deceased). They were divorced in 1974. Lou moved to Monterey, California in 1975 where he could combine his love for auto racing and photography at the Laguna Seca Raceway. He married Louise Howell and they were the parents of a daughter, Jenny, now a student at BYU. They later divorced. Lou owned and operated the Camera Exchange Photo Shop in Pacific Grove, CA, where a good customer, Amy Carrol, became his best friend, soul mate, wife, and business and photography partner and inseparable companion. Lou and Amy married in 1986 and gave to each other the happiest years of their lives. They were official Raceway Photographers for the Laguna Seca Raceway, Pebble Beach Golf Course and Country Club, as well as numerous other free lance photography projects on the Monterey Peninsula. Lou was a member and instructor of the breathing Lotus Tai Chi Club of Pacific Grove. He enjoyed gourmet cooking, wood working and could do virtually anything he set his mind to do.