Obituary: Mary Dell Bender

Mary Dell Bender passed away on June 26, 2011 at University Hospital with her husband at her side. She had suffered a stroke.

Mary was born Sept. 25, 1939 in Limon. She attended a one-room elementary school north of Genoa and graduated from Limon High School in 1957. She married her high school sweetheart, Thomas Bender, on Nov. 17, 1957.

As a military wife and mother, she raised their children while Tom served on almost continuous worldwide deployments for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. In 1977, she finally settled with her family in their mountain home in Rist Canyon, just west of Bellvue.

Mary worked at Woodward Governor until retirement. She then focused on her family’s welfare while being very active with the Larimer County Republican Party. Mary was a very loving mother and a selfless neighbor. She dedicated her life to her children and grandchildren. She loved to read, play computer card games but most of all to plan, organize and host family birthday and holiday celebrations. She loved her mountain home and enjoyed feeding her hummingbirds. She considered viewing the frequent visits by wild turkeys, deer and other wildlife with her husband as memorable and satisfying moments of her life.

Mary is survived by her loving husband, Thomas; three daughters, Elizabeth Hale, Theresa Bottger, Katherine Myers; a son, Thomas D. Bender; grandchildren Casey, Mason, Mary Katherine, Grant, Drew, Codey, Chase, Celena, Kristin and Kyle; one great-grandchild, Alexander; her mother, Irma Kjosness; twin sister, Martha Torline; and two brothers, A.T. Kjosness and Dennis Kjosness.