Arlene Bender, 87, formerly of Washburn, ND went to the Lord in the early morning of October 15, 2023 at Sunset Drive - a Prospera Community. Mandan, ND.  Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at First Lutheran Church, Washburn with Pastor Paul Krueger officiating.  Interment will be held in the Riverview Cemetery, Washburn. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church.

Arlene J. Bender was born August 28, 1936 to Alex and Emelia (Dschaak) Renk and grew up in Zap, ND.   She married LeRoy Bender on January 10, 1954 and together they had 4 children.   Arlene spent her young married years raising her children and working beside LeRoy on the family farm near Washburn.  She had a tremendous talent for creating much out of little.  Arlene was an excellent cook and loved gardening, along with a passion for interior decorating.  In 1974 she started her own decorating business which featured decorating, painting, wallpapering, staining and varnishing.   In 1976 Arlene started taking lessons for canvas oil painting.  Over the next 25 years, her artistic creations won her numerous awards and recognition.

Arlene and LeRoy loved travelling and took many trips.  After LeRoy and Arlene retired from the farm in 1987, they continued to work side by side as custodians at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.   Arlene spent the last 10 years battling the effects of Parkinson's.  As a result of her physical restrictions, she spent the last 7 years in a Mandan Continuing Care Center. It became her home and she loved the people who cared for her in those last days.

Arlene leaves behind her daughters, Linda Heger and Sandy Blatter both of Bismarck; her son, Tim (Kristi) Bender of Lake Bay, WA; three grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband LeRoy; daughter, Jacquiline Rush; grandson, Russel Emineth; son-in-law, Allen Blatter and seven brothers and sisters.