Emma Bender

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN with Reverend Steve Norby officiating and 1:00 P.M. - 2:30 P.M. on Saturday, Apirl 23, 2011 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Ashley, ND.VISITATION : 5:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN and for one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday.INTERMENT : Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Ashley, ND.SURVIVORS : Her sister, Gertrude Rewoldt, Lee"s Summit, MO; sons, Frank (Bickey) Park Rapids and Eugene (Carlene) College Station, TX; daughter-in-law, Marie Bender-Lee (Ron) Kingston, RI; son-in-law, Gideon Raile (Lucille) Bismarck, ND; 10 grandchildren: Joy (Howard) Umphrey, Seattle, WA, Mary (Marvin) Mitchell, Seattle, WA, Kara (Dan)Johnston, Minnetonka, MN, Gina (George) Singer, Apple Valley, MN, Philip (Marcela Sanchez) Bender, Takoma Park, MD, D. Jonathan (Jenn) Bender, Westmont, IL, Jeremy (Beth) Bender, East Syracuse, NY, Joshua (Katie) Bender, Lakewood, NJ, Eric Bender, Austin, TX, Anne (Gary) Bender-Gentry, Cibolo, TX and 16 great grand children. EMMA M. BENDERSeptember 11, 1910 ~ April 14, 2011 Emma M. Bender, beloved caregiver, friend, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away April 14, 2011 at Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, MN, at the age of 100 years and 6 months. Emma Margaretta Katharina Sprattler was born on September 11, 1910, to Pastor George and Emma (Lange) Sprattler in Pendleton, Oregon. At 1 1/2 years of age her family moved to American Falls, Idaho, where her father established a small rural church. In 1922, her parents and six siblings moved to Ashley, ND. There Emma became a talented musician, playing cello, piano and organ. She also sang in choir and was an avid basketball player, although as a pastor"s daughter she was not allowed to travel to out-of-town games. After graduating from high school in 1929, Emma enrolled in the St. Luke"s School of Nursing in Fargo, ND. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1932 and worked at St. Luke"s in Fargo and other hospitals in Billings, MT, and Ashley. Emma worked as a special duty nurse in the Ashley community and was one of the first RN"s to be on duty at the opening of Ashley Memorial Hospital. She helped deliver many children on the OB floor and frequently assisted in surgery. Many people came to seek out her help and care. On June 25, 1933, Emma married Ferdie Bender in Billings, MT. They raised a family of four, 1 daughter and 3 sons, in Ashley. Emma was a member of the first hospital Auxiliary and, during the 1950"s, was in charge of the County Red Cross Nursing service. She was also an active Den mother, church organist, and member of Zion Lutheran Church, Lutheran Mission Circle, ALCW, the Sunshine Homemakers Club and the Ashley Country Club. After retiring Emma and Ferdie wintered in Mesa, AZ for 25 years. They continued their active life in church and music until Ferdie passed away on Sept. 27, 1998 at the age of 92. In 2001, Emma moved from her Ashley home to Heritage Manor Assisted Living in Park Rapids, MN, where she made many new friends. She was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church and a member of the Love Circle. Emma was fluent in German and remained in communication with family and friends in Germany for most of her life. She will be remembered for her smile, compassion, devotion to her faith and her love for family. Emma is survived by her sister, Gertrude Rewoldt, Lee"s Summit, MO; sons, Frank (Bickey) Park Rapids and Eugene (Carlene) College Station, TX; daughter-in-law, Marie Bender-Lee (Ron) Kingston, RI; son-in-law, Gideon Raile (Lucille) Bismarck, ND; 10 grandchildren: Joy (Howard) Umphrey, Seattle, WA, Mary (Marvin) Mitchell, Seattle, WA, Kara (Dan)Johnston, Minnetonka, MN, Gina (George) Singer, Apple Valley, MN, Philip (Marcela Sanchez) Bender, Takoma Park, MD, D. Jonathan (Jenn) Bender, Westmont, IL, Jeremy (Beth) Bender, East Syracuse, NY, Joshua (Katie) Bender, Lakewood, NJ, Eric Bender, Austin, TX, Anne (Gary) Bender-Gentry, Cibolo, TX; 16 great grand children and numerous nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents; 4 brothers; 3 sisters; her husband, Ferdie Bender; daughter, Margaret Bender Raile and son, Donald Bender.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN with Reverend Stephen Norby officiating. The organist will be: Roz Pederson. Philys Bender will be the soloist and will sing "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked" and "The Lord"s Prayer". Congregational hymns will be: "My Jesus, I Love Thee" and "O" Take My Hand, Dear Father". The casketbearers will be: Joy Umphrey, Mary Mitchell, Kara Johnston, Gina Singer, Philip Bender, D. Jonathan Bender, Jeremy Bender, Jeremy Bender, Joshua Bender, Eric Bender and Anne Bender-Gentry. The honorary casketbearers will be: "The Love Circle" from Calvary Lutheran Church and her great grandchildren: Hayley Umphrey, Mariah, Luke and Michaela Johnston, Anneliese, Jonathan, Jack and Aidan Singer, Katie, Rachel, Zachary, Faith, Mitchell, Dylan, Sophie and Savanah Bender. Interment will be held in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Ashley, ND. Visitation will be held from 5 " 8 P.M. on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to: Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, MN; Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN and Zion Lutheran Church in Ashley, ND.