Obituary of Patricia Arlene Bender

Mom was born August 31, 1945 in Duncan, OK to Arlie and Willie Mae Horner. At age 13, Pat made her profession of faith committing her life to our Lord and was baptized at age 16 in the First Baptist Church of Duncan, OK where she was the youngest member of the church choir. She graduated as an honor student from Duncan High School in 1963. During her senior year of high school she met Roland Bender while he was stationed at Fort Sill, OK. They married on July 21, 1963 in Duncan, OK. Shortly following their marriage they made their home on the farm in rural Menno, SD. The city girl soon learned to milk cows, work with livestock, raise crops and help Roland in any way she possibly could. Pat and Roland were blessed with four children: Annabelle, Timothy, Henry and William. Pat was a Sunday school teacher, helped part time as a teacher’s aide in Menno School, and also worked at Gurney’s in Yankton. She enjoyed her years working at the Dairy Bar in Menno and worked several years at Menno-Olivet Care Center first as housekeeper then eventually as Housekeeping Supervisor. She retired in 2013 to spend more time with Roland. Mom truly adored her family. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed having family join her and Dad at the farm for the holidays. She took great pride in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always worried about the weather, wondering if her family could safely travel home. She especially enjoyed attending as many activities of her family as possible. She was an avid reader. The door to her home was always open and would never turn anyone away, be it family, friends or anyone wanting to stop by for a quick chat or an extended stay. Pallbearers are Doug Handel and Lee Heckenlaible; her grandchildren Tracy Perry, Bobby Perry, Jonathan Kirschenman and Robert Kirschenman. Honorary pallbearers are her remaining grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is survived by her four children: Annabelle (Mike) Budde of Wyoming, MN, Timothy Bender and Henry (Janelle) Bender of Menno, SD and Willie (Rebecca) Bender of Winfield, IA; nine grandchildren: Tracy (Bobby) Perry of Wyoming, MN, Jonathan Kirschenman of Maple Grove, MN, Robert Kirschenman of Rockford, MN; Samuel, Levi & Abigail Bender of Menno, SD; Ashlyn, Isaac & Eli Bender of Winfield, IA; three great grandchildren: Colin, Devin & Kaiden Perry of Wyoming, MN; siblings Wanda (Tommy) Bacon of Glen Rose, TX and Sheila (Bill) Jones of Duncan OK, as well as several brothers and sisters in laws, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Roland of 52 years, her parents Arlie and Willie Mae Horner, her sister Betty Antwine, brother Billy Horner and father and mother in law Herbert and Otillie Bender. She passed one month after Roland and will be laid to rest with him on their 53rd wedding anniversary.