ARLIE BENDER
Please join Jason, Tammy, Jayden, Baylee, Skylar, Rhyker, Robyn, India, Aaron, Madeline and Lorene, as we celebrate the life of our Dad, Grandpa and Husband Arlie Bender on Saturday June 11, 2022 at 3:30 PM. The celebration will take place in the new shop on Arlie and Lorene’s farm located 3 miles east and 2 miles south of Britton, SD. We’d like to share memories of joy and laughter as well as tears, hugs, fellowship and food.
Arlie Bender slipped away from us on March 19, 2022 at Mayo Clinic/St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. He and his family fought for six weeks to overcome complications from a heart attack. It was not to be. He was surrounded by his family.
Arlie Bender was born May 11, 1951 in Aberdeen South Dakota to Reiny & Frieda (Meidinger) Bender. Arlie grew up on his family farm east of Britton where his strong work ethic was learned and earned during long days of hard work. Arlie attended school in Britton, graduating from Britton High School in 1969. On September 30, 1969 Arlie and his buddy Larry Olson enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard and reported for Basic Training on January 13, 1970 in Ft. Campbell Kentucky. Upon completion of Basic Training, he received MOS training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Arlie was a SD National Guard Reserve Soldier for six years and was Honorably Discharged on September 29, 1975. Arlie’s Guard Unit was in the Badlands of South Dakota for training when they were called for security and clean-up in Rapid City, SD following the flood in 1972. The devastation he witnessed never left his memory.
Arlie Bender fell in love twice in his life. He married June Mydland in 1971 and shared the birth and joy of three children; Jason, Jeana and Robyn. He would marry Lorene Grupe in 1987 with whom he would share the rest of his life and share the lives of his three children.
Arlie was truly rooted in the land he farmed. With the exception of a few months, Arlie lived his entire life on the same farm where he was raised and he farmed the same land his parents farmed. That fact was never lost on Arlie. He was never afraid to do whatever he had to do to hold on to that farm during some very difficult times. He and Lorene transitioned from cattle feeding into buffalo in 1998, a decision they never regretted. He enjoyed everything about his buffalo and could be found just watching them in the late afternoons.
Arlie never really had a hobby other than his farm. He said what he did for a living was his hobby; from which he would never really retire. Teaching his children and grandchildren the value of hard work and perseverance was of great importance to him.
Arlie didn’t hunt, but valued it. He did believe that learning to hunt was important to the youth of the community. For years he reserved 80 acres of CRP for “youth only” pheasant hunting. He said it was close to town so “town kids” could come out with a parent and hunt a pheasant. As recognition for his belief, in 2015 he was awarded the South Dakota Youth Conservationist of the Year by the Marshall County Sportsman’s Club, the South Dakota Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation.
Arlie admired old tractors and the sound of a 2-cylinder John Deere; the sound of a 99 Oliver not so much. He was pretty sure the sound from that 99 Oliver led to the beginning of his hearing loss. He had a special affection for a Ferguson 30, one of several tractors he drove as a child. Arlie restored a Ferguson 30 in 2019 and just last summer he took it on a tractor drive in New Effington, SD with his good friend Mark Ellingson.
Arlie was quick witted and had quite a sense of humor. He found great joy in “pranking” his granddaughters. Arlie had a great sense of curiosity about other people and their way of life, especially other farming practices. Often times he learned way more about someone else than they ever learned about him. He was quite humble and rarely talked about himself in a conversation. Above all, Arlie was kind. If he could help someone he would. His word and his handshake were his bond.
Arlie served on the Farmers CO-OP Elevator Board for many years and was the elevator representative on the Marshall Regional Rail Authority. He knew how significant it was to secure rail service to Britton and to the future of the local elevator. He was part of the board that secured the site of the new elevator but he had left the board at the time of the elevator transition and new elevator construction. He was so glad to see that elevator built, and it can be seen on the horizon west of his farm. Arlie also served on the Pleasant Valley Township Board for many years, and was currently serving as Clerk.
Blessed to have shared his life are his wife of 35 years, Lorene Bender of Britton; his children, Jason (Tammy) Bender, Britton and Robyn Thompson, Morrison, CO; also surviving & missing him are his five granddaughters, Jayden, Baylee, Skylar and Rhyker Bender, Britton and India Thompson, Morrison, CO and Arlie’s “Grandson by Choice”, Aaron Beaner, (fiancé, Madeline Boe), Britton; his sisters: Diane (Richard) Rath, Arvada, CO and LaVonne (Roger) Furman, Britton, SD and a brother-in-law Roger (Lori) Grupe, Britton. Arlie is also survived by 17 nieces and nephews and their families.
Preceding him in death are his beloved Daughter, Jeana, his parents, his brothers Marvin and Oscar Bender, a sister-in-law Valera Bender, a nephew Terry Lee Rath and his father and mother-in law, Loren and Judy Grupe,
In lieu of flowers, please consider helping someone less fortunate than you in Arlie’s memory. He wouldn’t have wanted all this attention on him anyway.
Condolences may be sent to Arlie’s Family in care of Lorene Bender, 11170 426th Ave., Britton, SD 57430. An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.pricefuneralchapel.net.