Lucella I. Bender

Lucella Bender, age 89, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Sunday, October 26, 2008, at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah, Iowa, following a long illness. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 30, 2008, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust, Iowa, with Rev. Gene Hermeier officiating. Burial will be in the Locust Cemetery, Locust, Iowa. Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Thursday morning. Lucella Irene (Peterson) Bender was born on March 26, 1919, the daughter of John and Lenora (Danielson) Peterson on the Peterson family farm in Canoe Township. Lucella was baptized and confirmed at the Hauge Lutheran Church. Lucella spoke only Norwegian, until she was enrolled in rural country school and later at Decorah High School. On June 2, 1937, Lucella married Virgil Bender at the Hauge Lutheran Church, and to this union, two daughters were born: Elaine and Carol. Together they farmed near Locust for many years. Lucella loved to cook, bake and garden. She took much pride in her flowers and provided many bouquets for the altar at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust. Lucella worked as a baker at the North Winneshiek School. Lucella has always been a kind and loving mother, with a very good sense of humor. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Lucella was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust, Iowa. Lucella’s survivors include her two daughters: Elaine (Dean) Yarwood, Columbia, MO, and Carol (Don) Blegen, Decorah, IA. One foster son: Rodney (Jan) Ask, Monticello, MN. Nine grandchildren: Cindy (Dave) Snider, Kent (Clara) Yarwood, Keith (Debra) Yarwood, Douglas Yarwood, Dennis (Elba) Yarwood, Shelly (Brian) Carolan, Jeffrey (Kelly) Blegen, Daniel Ask and Annette (Ted) Greely. Sixteen great grandchildren: Rebecca, Abigail, Paul, Allan, Carl Dean, Brittany, Clayton, Brianna, Wyatt, Paige, Amber, Kaia, Janae, Luke, Stacia and Dylac. Two sisters: Doris Bender and Helen (Rev. O. Paul) Hougen, both of Decorah, IA. Three brothers: Robert (Grace) Peterson, Charles (Rose) Peterson, and John (Lorraine) Peterson, all of Decorah, IA. One sister-in-law: Myrtle Barth, Decorah, IA, along with many nieces and nephews. Lucella was preceded in death by her parents: John and Lenora (Danielson) Peterson. Her husband: Virgil on February 3, 2001. One brother: Ervin Peterson on May 8, 1988. One sister-in-law: Bessie (Frankie) Barth. Three brothers-in-law: Walter Bender, Adam Bender, Jr. and Raymond Barth.