Cover photo for Mary Bender's Obituary
Mary Bender Profile Photo
1948 Mary 2021

Mary Bender

February 12, 1948 — December 21, 2021

Mary Bender, 73, Mandan, died December 21, 2021, at Sanford Health, Bismarck.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:30 PM on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mandan, with Fr. Josh Waltz officiating.  Committal will be at a later date in Dickinson.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a Parish Vigil at 7 PM.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Mary was born February 12, 1948 in Yakima, WA, to Mike and Elsie (Ridl) Wanner.  She grew up in Dickinson, ND where she graduated from Trinity High School.  Mary was united in marriage to William Kraft and they had two children, Kelly and Kyle.  On February 14, 1994 she married Richard Bender.  Mary had a passion for ALL animals, gardening, collecting antiques, sewing, crocheting, reading, and concerts.  Her greatest joys came from her grandchildren, Ashton and Kyleigh.

Mary graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Medical Transcription from Bismarck State College.   She worked for MedCenter One and prior to that was a longtime associate at K-mart and did sewing for Stitch in Time.

Mary was a very talented seamstress.  She made school clothes for her children, prom dresses, wedding dresses, and did alterations.  She could sew anything.  Her favorite season was summer, the hotter it was, the more she liked it.  But her most loved holiday was Christmas and all it represents.  So it is a blessing that God chose her to spend this Christmas with Him and all of her family and friends she missed so dearly.

Thankful and grateful for her love and life is her husband, Richard Bender; her children, Kelly (Jerret) Wood and Kyle Kraft; grandchildren, Ashton Kraft and Kyleigh Wood; brothers, David (Patti) Wanner and Robert Wanner; sister, Charlotte Jones; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, please direct gifts to the Bismarck Mandan Humane Society.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Bender, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

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Rosary/Parish Vigil

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Starts at 7:00 pm (Central time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Mass of Christian Burial

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Starts at 1:30 pm (Central time)

St. Joseph Catholic Church

108 3rd St NE, Mandan, ND 58554

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