Doris Bender, 90, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust, Iowa, with the Rev. Nancy Solomonson presiding. Burial will be in the Locust Cemetery.
Friends may call from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, and after 10 a.m. at the church on Wednesday morning.
Doris Elvera (Peterson) Bender was born Sept. 2, 1921, the daughter of John and Lenora (Danielson) Peterson on the Peterson Family Farm in Canoe Township, Iowa. Doris was baptized at Decorah Lutheran Church and confirmed at the Hauge Lutheran Church. Doris attended country school and later Decorah High School. On Nov. 21, 1939, Doris married Walter Bender of Decorah at St. John’s Lutheran Parsonage in Locust, Iowa. To this union one daughter was born, Beverly. In 1957 their foster son, Dean, came to live with them and became a much loved son and a permanent member of the family.
Walt and Doris purchased the Bender Family Farm in 1950 and were living on it when it became a Century Farm. In addition to working side-by-side on the farm, Doris baked many birthday, wedding, anniversary and confirmation cakes. She also made ceramics and enjoyed Norwegian Rosmaling.
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Doris enjoyed cooking and baking and would always have a cup of coffee and homemade treats for family and friends when they stopped in for a visit. In 1986, Doris and Walt moved to Decorah; they also had a mobile home in New Albin, Iowa, where they spent as much time as possible fishing (their favorite pastime) and enjoying the company of their good friends. Doris had been a 4-H Leader, Sunday School Teacher, President of St. John’s WELCA and an active church member of St. John’s Lutheran in Locust.
Doris was a kind and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was always willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed and always with a smile. We will truly miss her and her kind and loving ways.
Doris is survived by her daughter, Beverly (Herb) Heffern of Decorah, formerly of Rochester; four grandchildren, Scott (Pamela) Heffern of Springfield, Mo., Marc (Kristen) Heffern of Decorah, Eric (Janice) Bender of Coon Valley, Wis., and Lynette Henry of Decorah; eight great-grandchildren, Nolan and Natalie Heffern of Decorah, Alexis and Nicholas Heffern of Springfield, Anthony and Danielle Henry of Decorah, Emily Bender and Emmett Edwards of Coon Valley; along with many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by three brothers, Robert (Grace) Peterson, Charles (Rose) Peterson and John Jr. (Lorraine) Peterson, all of Decorah; one sister, Helen (O. Paul) Hougen of Decorah; one sister-in-law, Myrtle Barth of Decorah; and one daughter-in-law, Carol (Scott) Swanson of St. Anthony.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lenora Peterson; her husband, Walter (Oct. 30, 2002); son, Dean (Sept. 26, 1999); one brother, Ervin Peterson (May 8, 1988); sister, Lucella Bender (Oct. 26, 2008); three sisters-in-law, Lucille Peterson, Dorothy Peterson and Bessie Barth; and four brothers-in law, Adam Bender Jr., Virgil Bender, Frankie Barth and Raymond Barth.
Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Ave., Decorah, IA 52101. (563) 382-8651
