George Leland Bender…November 26, 1926 – January 22, 2017

Funeral Services for George Bender will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church in Las Animas, Colorado. Pastor Rod Coulter will officiate. Interment will follow in the Bent/Las Animas Cemetery.

George Leland Bender was born on November 26, 1926 in La Junta, Colorado to George M. and Molly (Lindt) Bender and passed away on January 22, 2017 in La Junta, Colorado at the age of 90.

George spent 35 years farming, a job he loved, and did 35 campaigns at the Rocky Ford Sugar Factory. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge, served 13 years as president of the school board, signing 5 of his 6 children’s high school diplomas.

George is survived by his wife, Betty Jean (Veatch) Bender; children, Wayne (Mary) Bender of Buena Vista, Colorado, Janet (Jim Thayer) Crockett of La Junta, Colorado, Connie Bender of Swink, Colorado, Kelly Jo (Gene) Jett of Scott City, Kansas, Barrett (Kerri) Bender of La Junta, Colorado; grandchildren, Larissa (Charley) Randall of Frederick, Colorado, Darcy (A.J.) Brinckerhoff of Silverthorne, Colorado, Julie (Darrin) Eck of La Junta, Colorado, Jodi (Brett) Rasmussen of Estes Park, Colorado, Jayne (Brady) Thompson, of Haviland, Kansas, Kahlen Schleich of Denver, Colorado, Jason Miller of Las Animas, Colorado, Trent (Alicia) Miller of West Virginia, Kayci Bender of La Junta, Colorado, Dax Bender also of La Junta, Colorado; and nine great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George M. and Molly (Lindt) Bender; son, Brian Bender; sisters, Elsie Pachak, Sarah Bonds; and brother, Fredrick “Fritz” Bender.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sangre de Cristo Hospice in care of Horber Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 431 Las Animas, CO 81054.

For more information or to leave online condolences, please visit http://www.horberfuneralchapel.com