Nellie Mae Fell Bender 1888-1944

BENDER, FELL, KEMP, KAMP, HARRIS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/26/2011 at 00:55:32

Mrs. M. R. Bender Dies; Funeral Held Wedneday
Mrs. M. R. Bender, 56, Estherville died Sunday [October 22, 1944] at the Park View clinic after a lengthy illness. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 2 p.m. from the Sternborg funeral chapel and at 2:30 p.m. from the Baptist church with the Rev. G.E. Forssell officiating. Burial was in the East Side cemetery.

Nellie Mae Fell was born Sept. 22, 1888 in El Paso, Ill., and came to Estherville in 1915. Here she kept house for her brother on Sunny Side farm near Terril. She was united in marriage to Merlin R. Bender on July 1, 1915 in the Presbyterian church in Estherville. In 1917 Mr. and Mrs. Bender operated a hotel in Terril.

Mrs. Bender has been in failing health for the past two years and has been in a paralyzed condition.

Surviving are her husband, two sisters, Mrs. Lee Kamp of Estherville and Mrs. Alice Harris of Earlham and one brother, George Fell of Downs, Ill.

Three sisters and one brother preceded Mrs. Bender in death. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, October 26, 1944)

Mrs. Merle Bender Buried Wednesday
Mrs. Merle Bender died Sunday at Estherville after a long illness. Mr. and Mrs. Bender operated the hotel here many years ago. A few years ago they operated the south café here. Nell, as she was generally known, was loved by everyone, as a woman of fine character and excellent common sense. There is a brother, Lee Kemp and a sister, Myrtle, besides her husband. Merle has been in constant attendance of Mrs. Bender since her illness and being sick himself, this will come as a real blow. Funeral services were held at Estherville Wednesday afternoon. (Terril Record, Terril, IA, October 26, 1944)