OBIT: The Daily World - 18 Jul 20122
Nick Joseph Bender was born in Montesano, Washington, on April 26, 1928, to Mato and Mary Bender. He died July 14, 2012, in Olympia, Washington, where he was hospitalized for his illness. Nick lived his total 84 years here in Montesano, 61 of those years married to Lucetta (Smalley) Bender, one residence they shared for 48 years. He attended Montesano High School and graduated in 1946 and then attended Grays Harbor College. He was in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War on the U.S.S. Hailey as a tin can sailor. After his service he held positions at Schaffer Brothers Logging, later purchased by Weyerhaueser, until he retired in 1984, with 35 years of service, as Raw Material Operations Manager for Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. He led a team in China for six weeks to provide training for lumber import, his most accomplished task.
Nick was a volunteer fireman for the fire department in Montesano for over 25 years. After his retirement he became an avid Ham radio operator and worked with the emergency services during crisis requiring his Ham operator skills. He is a life time member of the William Rosier VFW 2455, and a Past Commander. Other affiliations Nick was involved are the Croatian Fraternal Union of America, Aberdeen Elks, past Manager, ARRL Radio club, and the NRA. Nick was also a member of St. John's Catholic Church for 84 years.
Nick was an avid gardener and there was nothing he could not grow. His yard and garden were admired by all, and he freely shared all he grew with friends and family. In addition to his love for his garden he spent time putting together model airplanes, fishing, smoking salmon, canning tuna, and spending time communicating with his many friends and keeping up with the latest technology.
Nick is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lucetta (Smalley) Bender, and four children, John Bender (Robyn) of Issaquah, Wash., Nikki Smidt of Bellevue, Wash., Boyd Bender of Seattle, Wash., and Michael Bender of Montesano, Wash. He has a brother, Robert Bender (Barbara) of Sheridan, Wyo., and Mary Ann Walker of Aberdeen, Wash. Besides his immediate family he dearly loved all his grandchildren and after retirement was able to spend a great deal of time with them, all fourteen. Bryan Kirkwood, Denny Kirkwood, Marisa Bender, Sarah Kurtz, Tyler Bender, Ronnie Rainwater, Sean Bender, Bobbie Williams, Kristin Bender, Michele Schubert, Arika Bender, Ricky Smidt, Haley Bender and Chandler Smidt. He also had fourteen great-grandchildren, with more on the way. He also has a large extended family with numerous, nieces, nephews and cousins. His love and generosity did not stop with his own family, he and Lucetta were parents to Scott and Connie Sipe, and grandparents to Aaron and Daniel Sipe.
Nick was able to visit the birth place of his father in Velja Meda, Herzegovnia earlier this year where he was able to connect with his Croatian family and celebrate his 84th birthday, and establish a loving bond.
Preceding him in death, he also had a granddaughter, Katie Ellen Bender; and his parents, Mato and Mary Bender.
Services will be held at St John's Catholic Church in Montesano, Wash. at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2012, with a reception immediately following in the Parish Hall. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Wynooche Cemetary.
Nick Joseph Bender was born in Montesano, Washington, on April 26, 1928, to Mato and Mary Bender. He died July 14, 2012, in Olympia, Washington, where he was hospitalized for his illness. Nick lived his total 84 years here in Montesano, 61 of those years married to Lucetta (Smalley) Bender, one residence they shared for 48 years. He attended Montesano High School and graduated in 1946 and then attended Grays Harbor College. He was in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War on the U.S.S. Hailey as a tin can sailor. After his service he held positions at Schaffer Brothers Logging, later purchased by Weyerhaueser, until he retired in 1984, with 35 years of service, as Raw Material Operations Manager for Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. He led a team in China for six weeks to provide training for lumber import, his most accomplished task.
Nick was a volunteer fireman for the fire department in Montesano for over 25 years. After his retirement he became an avid Ham radio operator and worked with the emergency services during crisis requiring his Ham operator skills. He is a life time member of the William Rosier VFW 2455, and a Past Commander. Other affiliations Nick was involved are the Croatian Fraternal Union of America, Aberdeen Elks, past Manager, ARRL Radio club, and the NRA. Nick was also a member of St. John's Catholic Church for 84 years.
Nick was an avid gardener and there was nothing he could not grow. His yard and garden were admired by all, and he freely shared all he grew with friends and family. In addition to his love for his garden he spent time putting together model airplanes, fishing, smoking salmon, canning tuna, and spending time communicating with his many friends and keeping up with the latest technology.
Nick is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lucetta (Smalley) Bender, and four children, John Bender (Robyn) of Issaquah, Wash., Nikki Smidt of Bellevue, Wash., Boyd Bender of Seattle, Wash., and Michael Bender of Montesano, Wash. He has a brother, Robert Bender (Barbara) of Sheridan, Wyo., and Mary Ann Walker of Aberdeen, Wash. Besides his immediate family he dearly loved all his grandchildren and after retirement was able to spend a great deal of time with them, all fourteen. Bryan Kirkwood, Denny Kirkwood, Marisa Bender, Sarah Kurtz, Tyler Bender, Ronnie Rainwater, Sean Bender, Bobbie Williams, Kristin Bender, Michele Schubert, Arika Bender, Ricky Smidt, Haley Bender and Chandler Smidt. He also had fourteen great-grandchildren, with more on the way. He also has a large extended family with numerous, nieces, nephews and cousins. His love and generosity did not stop with his own family, he and Lucetta were parents to Scott and Connie Sipe, and grandparents to Aaron and Daniel Sipe.
Nick was able to visit the birth place of his father in Velja Meda, Herzegovnia earlier this year where he was able to connect with his Croatian family and celebrate his 84th birthday, and establish a loving bond.
Preceding him in death, he also had a granddaughter, Katie Ellen Bender; and his parents, Mato and Mary Bender.
Services will be held at St John's Catholic Church in Montesano, Wash. at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2012, with a reception immediately following in the Parish Hall. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Wynooche Cemetary.
OBIT: The Daily World - 18 Jul 20122
Nick Joseph Bender was born in Montesano, Washington, on April 26, 1928, to Mato and Mary Bender. He died July 14, 2012, in Olympia, Washington, where he was hospitalized for his illness. Nick lived his total 84 years here in Montesano, 61 of those years married to Lucetta (Smalley) Bender, one residence they shared for 48 years. He attended Montesano High School and graduated in 1946 and then attended Grays Harbor College. He was in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War on the U.S.S. Hailey as a tin can sailor. After his service he held positions at Schaffer Brothers Logging, later purchased by Weyerhaueser, until he retired in 1984, with 35 years of service, as Raw Material Operations Manager for Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. He led a team in China for six weeks to provide training for lumber import, his most accomplished task.
Nick was a volunteer fireman for the fire department in Montesano for over 25 years. After his retirement he became an avid Ham radio operator and worked with the emergency services during crisis requiring his Ham operator skills. He is a life time member of the William Rosier VFW 2455, and a Past Commander. Other affiliations Nick was involved are the Croatian Fraternal Union of America, Aberdeen Elks, past Manager, ARRL Radio club, and the NRA. Nick was also a member of St. John's Catholic Church for 84 years.
Nick was an avid gardener and there was nothing he could not grow. His yard and garden were admired by all, and he freely shared all he grew with friends and family. In addition to his love for his garden he spent time putting together model airplanes, fishing, smoking salmon, canning tuna, and spending time communicating with his many friends and keeping up with the latest technology.
Nick is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lucetta (Smalley) Bender, and four children, John Bender (Robyn) of Issaquah, Wash., Nikki Smidt of Bellevue, Wash., Boyd Bender of Seattle, Wash., and Michael Bender of Montesano, Wash. He has a brother, Robert Bender (Barbara) of Sheridan, Wyo., and Mary Ann Walker of Aberdeen, Wash. Besides his immediate family he dearly loved all his grandchildren and after retirement was able to spend a great deal of time with them, all fourteen. Bryan Kirkwood, Denny Kirkwood, Marisa Bender, Sarah Kurtz, Tyler Bender, Ronnie Rainwater, Sean Bender, Bobbie Williams, Kristin Bender, Michele Schubert, Arika Bender, Ricky Smidt, Haley Bender and Chandler Smidt. He also had fourteen great-grandchildren, with more on the way. He also has a large extended family with numerous, nieces, nephews and cousins. His love and generosity did not stop with his own family, he and Lucetta were parents to Scott and Connie Sipe, and grandparents to Aaron and Daniel Sipe.
Nick was able to visit the birth place of his father in Velja Meda, Herzegovnia earlier this year where he was able to connect with his Croatian family and celebrate his 84th birthday, and establish a loving bond.
Preceding him in death, he also had a granddaughter, Katie Ellen Bender; and his parents, Mato and Mary Bender.
Services will be held at St John's Catholic Church in Montesano, Wash. at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2012, with a reception immediately following in the Parish Hall. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Wynooche Cemetary.
Nick Joseph Bender was born in Montesano, Washington, on April 26, 1928, to Mato and Mary Bender. He died July 14, 2012, in Olympia, Washington, where he was hospitalized for his illness. Nick lived his total 84 years here in Montesano, 61 of those years married to Lucetta (Smalley) Bender, one residence they shared for 48 years. He attended Montesano High School and graduated in 1946 and then attended Grays Harbor College. He was in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War on the U.S.S. Hailey as a tin can sailor. After his service he held positions at Schaffer Brothers Logging, later purchased by Weyerhaueser, until he retired in 1984, with 35 years of service, as Raw Material Operations Manager for Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. He led a team in China for six weeks to provide training for lumber import, his most accomplished task.
Nick was a volunteer fireman for the fire department in Montesano for over 25 years. After his retirement he became an avid Ham radio operator and worked with the emergency services during crisis requiring his Ham operator skills. He is a life time member of the William Rosier VFW 2455, and a Past Commander. Other affiliations Nick was involved are the Croatian Fraternal Union of America, Aberdeen Elks, past Manager, ARRL Radio club, and the NRA. Nick was also a member of St. John's Catholic Church for 84 years.
Nick was an avid gardener and there was nothing he could not grow. His yard and garden were admired by all, and he freely shared all he grew with friends and family. In addition to his love for his garden he spent time putting together model airplanes, fishing, smoking salmon, canning tuna, and spending time communicating with his many friends and keeping up with the latest technology.
Nick is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lucetta (Smalley) Bender, and four children, John Bender (Robyn) of Issaquah, Wash., Nikki Smidt of Bellevue, Wash., Boyd Bender of Seattle, Wash., and Michael Bender of Montesano, Wash. He has a brother, Robert Bender (Barbara) of Sheridan, Wyo., and Mary Ann Walker of Aberdeen, Wash. Besides his immediate family he dearly loved all his grandchildren and after retirement was able to spend a great deal of time with them, all fourteen. Bryan Kirkwood, Denny Kirkwood, Marisa Bender, Sarah Kurtz, Tyler Bender, Ronnie Rainwater, Sean Bender, Bobbie Williams, Kristin Bender, Michele Schubert, Arika Bender, Ricky Smidt, Haley Bender and Chandler Smidt. He also had fourteen great-grandchildren, with more on the way. He also has a large extended family with numerous, nieces, nephews and cousins. His love and generosity did not stop with his own family, he and Lucetta were parents to Scott and Connie Sipe, and grandparents to Aaron and Daniel Sipe.
Nick was able to visit the birth place of his father in Velja Meda, Herzegovnia earlier this year where he was able to connect with his Croatian family and celebrate his 84th birthday, and establish a loving bond.
Preceding him in death, he also had a granddaughter, Katie Ellen Bender; and his parents, Mato and Mary Bender.
Services will be held at St John's Catholic Church in Montesano, Wash. at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2012, with a reception immediately following in the Parish Hall. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Wynooche Cemetary.
Family Members
Parents
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
