Russell D. Bender, 1934-2021
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Mar 22, 2021 | 10:42 AM / 578 views
Russell D. Bender, 86, Java, SD, passed away Thursday, March 18, 2021 at the Mobridge Regional Hospital, Mobridge, SD with Dr. Travis Henderson and staff providing him comfort on his journey. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Monday, March 22, 2021 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Java, led by Pastor Mary Lou Gruebele. Interment, with military graveside rites by the Frederick Schauer American Legion Post No. 100, Selby, SD, follows at the Church Cemetery. Organist will be Carol Fiedler and the congregation will sing “Amazing Grace”, “Just as I Am”, and “The Old Rugged Cross”. Usher will be Carlyle Bieber.
Visitation commences 2:00 PM Sunday at Lien Funeral Chapel, Selby, with a 3:00 PM prayer service.
Russell Dean Bender, son of Susie (Flamang) and Albert Bender, was born July 28, 1934 in Eureka, SD. He was brought up on a farm in Campbell County 13 miles NE of Java. In 1943, the Bender family moved into Java. Russell’s formal education consisted of rural school and Java Public School. Russell served his country in the United States Army with his time being spent in France, he could even speak some French. He was inducted December 6, 1956. Following his honorable discharge on November 25, 1958, he returned to Java where he initially worked and boarded at the Herbert Bieber farm. Russell married MaeNerva Hoffman at Java on November 1, 1959. The newlyweds settled in Java where Russell farmed and raised livestock until 1992. He was then employed with the Walworth County Soil Conservation District until retiring in 2002. If you had a question about a tree, he was your go to guy. For many years, Russell was also employed at the Java Co-op., keeping his finger on the local farming community. Another interest he and MaeNerva had was owning and operating Old Church Antiques in Java. MaeNerva died April 1, 2011 and Russell lived the rest of his life in Java. He was a member of St Paul Lutheran Church and had been a Java Volunteer Fireman.
Russell had a wealth of knowledge when it came to farming and the local community. Sharing his knowledge through many a conversation was some of his favorite times. Many hours were spent driving around enjoying the beauty of Walworth County, and Java.
Hunting and Fishing were early passions of Russell’s He looked forward to the yearly pheasant hunts when many of the Flamangs from Wisconsin would come enjoy the time with Russell and MaeNerva. Russell also enjoyed getting his boat ready for fishing season.
Old Church Antiques was a large part of Russell and MaeNerva’s life. His knowledge of antiquing took him and his family, mostly Sue, across the region.
At MaeNerva’s insistence, they did some traveling later in life. One of the more memorable trips was taking a train across the US to Seattle. She even got him to a concert in Fargo to see George Strait, one of her favorites.
Russell is survived by three daughters, Susan (Dennis) Kuehl of Java, Patricia (Kelvin) Lawrence of Sioux Falls, SD, and Jennifer Kalenze of Bowdle; six grandchildren, Alicia (Dustin) Mullinix, Dustin (Melissa) Leuning, Tyson (Emily) Leuning, Jordon Leuning, Shannon Stickney, and Lee (Amanda) Stickney; and eight great grandchildren.
In addition to MaeNerva, Russell was preceded in death by his father, Albert, mother, Susie, his sister, Janice Wolf, and his brother-in-law, Marlin Wolf.
Casketbearers will be Dan Biel of Java, Don Sauer, Jr. of Mobridge, and Roger Hirsch and Richard Fiedler of Selby.
Russell’s funeral will be livestreamed on the Lien Family Funeral Care Facebook Page and be available Tuesday night at this website.
Services are in care of Lien Funeral Home, Bowdle.