Betty Mae Bender

Betty Mae Mallman Bender, 92, died peacefully on Sunday, September 28, 2014. Betty was born on May 2, 1922 in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin to Olga Mae and Harrison Church Mallman. Betty’s favorite thing was being with her family, especially her three boys. She also loved being outdoors where she liked to hike and bird watch. She enjoyed golf and continued to play throughout her life. She attended Merrill High School in Merrill, Wisconsin, and graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee. She was also a graduate of Waukesha County Technical College, receiving a Medical Records Degree. Betty had an adventurous side and loved to travel. Later in life, she could often be found crisscrossing Europe and the United States. She was a popular volunteer docent at Old World Wisconsin. For upwards of 15 years, Betty greeted guests, welcoming them to the open-air museum. In 1945, Betty married the love of her life, Robert E. “Bob” Bender. They made their home in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. In addition to raising their three children, Rick, Randy, and Rob, Betty also worked in the retail industry, managing several store in Oconomowoc throughout her career. Later, Betty worked as a Medical Records Specialist at Watertown Memorial Hospital. Throughout her life, Betty was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, where she was an active volunteer. Betty is survived by her sons Richard Bender (Gail) of Ripon, Wisconsin; Randall Bender (Silke) of Tucson, Arizona; and Robert (Georganne) Bender of Algonquin, Illinois. Also surviving is her sister Ellie Jean Stieg of Crawfordsville, Indiana; four grandchildren, Elizabeth and Sarah Bender; Kathleen Bender DeCandia (Tim); and John Bender; as well as many other relatives and close friends. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, her siblings Lorraine, Reggie, Marion, Harry, and her parents. Visitation is from 10:00 am – 11:00 am, Services from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 210 Pleasant Street, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Betty will be laid to rest at 2:30 pm at Glenview Memorial Gardens, Ixonia, Wisconsin.