Patricia Bender

Patti Bender died Friday, January 31, 2025 at CCM Health in Montevideo at the age of 69.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home.

Patricia Lynn (Conley) Bender was born on January 24, 1956. She was raised by her mother, Shirley Conley, and together they lived in Ohio, California, and Minnesota. Patti attended SMSU in Marshall and later studied graphic design at the Vo-Tech in Canby.

A devoted mother, Patti cherished her three children—Dawnette, Johnn, and Joseph. She worked in various roles throughout her life and truly enjoyed every job she had. Patti was the definition of a “people person”; if she met you, she loved you.

She found joy in gift-giving, playing board games like Yahtzee and Scrabble, thrifting, and spending time with friends and family. One of her greatest joys was becoming a grandmother in 1992 and later a great-grandmother in 2015, titles she wore with pride.

Patti was an avid fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Washington Commanders, but she also loved watching Minnesota Vikings football with her favorite guy, Tate Clark. She cherished early mornings spent drinking coffee with her best friend, Sonja, and always looked forward to chatting with her friend Bruce about his travels.  Her kindness, warmth, and love for others will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Patti is survived by her children: Dawnette Miller, Johnn W. Bender III, Joseph (Crystal Eastman) Bender; grandchildren: James, Khalilah, Kassie, Mason, Karter, Camden, Joseph, Allazaya, Brandyn, Caysen, David, Scarlett; great-grandchildren: BrinLeigh, Hudson, Ka’mazi and one more on the way; siblings: Lester (Tammy) Marcum, Tommy (Janice) Marcum, and extended family and friends. She thought of everyone as her children and grands. If you met her and were in her life, she loved you hard and without boundries.

She was preceded in death by her parents, mother Shirley Conley; brothers: Brian Conley, Michael Conley, Lonnie, Phil, Allen; sister: Denise Ross; and grandson, David.

May her memory be blessed.