Mildred “Milly” Bender of Forest Lake died peacefully in the Pillar’s Hospice Home in Oakdale on March 31, 2003, of lung cancer. She was 75 years old.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 3, at Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date. Friends called from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, at the Mattson Funeral Home in Forest Lake.
Mildred Bender was born on March 12, 1928, in Benson, Minn., to Albert and Ottilia (Johansson) Phil. She married Lavon John Bender in 1949; he preceded her in death in 1991. Milly was a homemaker and an avid flower gardener. She and Lavon enjoyed their lake cabin near Kimball.
Milly was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Lavon, her parents and sister Sylvia Froberg.
She is lovingly remembered by her daughter Betty (and Bill) Bender and grandson Michael; her son Jack (and Cherie) Bender and two granddaughters, Christie and Raegan; sister Chestine Carlsted; and nieces and nephews. Arrangements were by Mattson Funeral Home in Forest Lake.
Memorials preferred in to Faith Lutheran Church Mission Awareness in Forest City, or the Marjorie McNeely (Como Park) Conservatory in St. Paul.
