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- [S927] Obituary.
uneral services for Henry 'Hank' Bender, age 86, of Lemmon, SD will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon with Pastor Bob Johnson officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at Black Hill's National Cemetery near Sturgis. Military Honors will be afforded by the Brattvet-Green American Legion Post #66 of Lemmon and the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard.
Special music will be provided by Marilyn Willey, pianist and Steve Sandgren, soloist.
Henry 'Hank' Bender was born on August 3, 1923, at McClusky, ND. He was the tenth of ten children to Jacob and Kathrina (Hetterly) Bender. He attended school at McClusky through the 8th grade. Following his schooling, he began working on the family farm. He was drafted into the United States Navy in 1944. Henry along with three of his brothers all served during WWII in the US Navy. Henry was stationed on the USS Luce 522, a destroyer, and served in the Marshall Islands, Guam and Saipan and the Philippines. On May 4, 1945, Henry's ship was attacked by a kamikaze pilot. The ship went down and Henry and the rest of the crew spent time floating in the ocean, waiting for another ship to come pick them up.
He returned to the United States and was allowed a 30-day survivors leave, where he went back home to McClusky. During his leave, he met Ethel Reinke, and following his honorable discharge in 1946 they were united in marriage on October 6, 1946 at the Baptist Church Parsonage in McClusky.
They moved to a farm northeast of Bismarck, ND where Henry and Ethel started a family of seven children. Henry soon took a job at the Sweetheart Baker, as a delivery man. His job took his family to McLaughlin, SD. Soon after their move, Henry was offered the manager's position at the Antelope Lanes Bowling Alley, in Lemmon, SD and he accepted that position in January of 1969. Henry also worked as a manger for the Legion Club and in 1975 began working for Wheeler Manufacturing. He retired from Wheeler's in 1985 and began enjoying golfing and bowling.
Hank loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Hank passed away on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon.
Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Ethel, Lemmon, SD; three sons, Steve Bender, Sioux Falls, SD, Dale Bender and Dwight 'Buddy' Bender, both of Lemmon, SD; four daughters, Penny (Larry) Alexander, Gettysburg, SD, Connie (Terry) Richardson, Mesquite, NV, Rita (Ron) Peterson, Ranchester, WY and Vicki Bender, Rapid City, SD; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Esther Wahl, Tonasket, WA; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Hank was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Tommy Priest; six brothers and two sisters.
Visitation will be on Monday, July 26, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by a family service at 7:00 p.m. all at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established.
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1923 - 2010 (86 years)