Emily Fay Bender, 86, of Grand Island, formerly of North Platte, died Jan. 2, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.

She was born on July 24, 1914, to Joseph David and Mary Myrtle Lillie Collins Fyfe. She lived in Canada until she was 6 years old, then her family moved back to Cedarville. Mo., where she grew up and attended school. After her schooling, she worked in Springfield, Mo., taking care of children and working in a grocery store.

On April 25, 1943, she married David Reinhold Bender at Moorefield. They farmed in the Moorefield/Farnam community until 1971, when they moved to North Platte. In 1998, she moved to Grand Island to live with her daughter.

She was a member of the Church of God at Holbrook and attended the Wesleyan Church in North Platte.

Mrs. Bender is survived by a daughter, Ruth Esther Obermeier of Grand Island; a son Edward David (Mimi) Bender of Pelzer, S.C.; an aunt, Clara Foster of Shelton, Mo.; four grandchildren, Annette, Matthew, Marsha and Jennifer; three great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, James Eugene Bender; and an infant sister.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Odean Colonial Chapel in North Platte with the Rev. Scott Ross of the Church of God in Omaha officiating. Burial will be in the Moorefield Cemetery.

The North Platte Telegraph, January 3, 2001