Source: Tribune-Record-Gleaner (Clark County, Wis.) 05/22/1991

Bender, Ethel Irene (1899 - 1991)

Funeral services were held Monday, May 20, at 2:00 p.m. for Ethel Irene Bender, 91, Colby. She died Sunday, May 19, 1991, at 3:30 a.m. at Colonial House Living Center, Colby, where she had been a resident for the past 10 years.

Rev. Kenneth Barnes officiated at the funeral at Colby United Methodist Church. Burial was in Colby Memorial Cemetery.
Ethel Irene Nichols was born Oct. 12, 1899 in Loyal to William and Catherine (nee Kissinger) Nichols. She received her education in Owen area schools and the Wausau Normal School. She was a grade school teacher in Withee and Colby, and also in Illinois. She belonged to the United Methodist Women, was a choir director, a member of Blue Sky Garden Club, Bridge Club, the Clark County Historical Society, and was a volunteer at Colonial House Living Center, Colby, and was a Telecare volunteer. She was a member of Colby United Methodist Church.

She and Harry Bender were married June 14, 1924, at Owen. He died Sept. 4, 1963.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Frank (Betty Jean) Nelson, Decorah, Iowa, and Mrs. Barbara Schmidtbauer, Tomahawk eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were one son, Brice, and two brothers.

Rux Funeral Home, Colby, handled funeral arrangements.