Dorothy Ruth (Barton) STENDER

BARTON, STENDER, LILLIBRIDGE, OATHOUDT, SYMONDS, ARP, KARNS, MCDONALD, RIKER, WHITE, CHESTER, HOLCOMB, SCHILLING, STROMGREN, MINGUS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/28/2016 at 16:36:06

September 27, 1914 --- December 25, 2001

Dorothy Ruth Stender, 87, a long-time resident of rural Massena, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, December 25, 2001 at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. The daughter of Robert Clayton and Edna Henrietta (Lillibridge) Barton, she was born September 27, 1914 in Clarion, Iowa. She was raised and attended school in Spencer, Iowa, graduating with the Spencer High School class of 1934. After graduation, she attended beauty school in Sioux City, Iowa and became a beautician in Atlantic, Iowa where she met John. On January 14, 1940, she married John Stender of Massena where they lived and farmed. In 1949 they moved to Adel, Iowa and farmed for two years then returned to the Stender farm at Massena. She had been married to John for 43 years when he passed away in 1983. She wintered in Texas for 20 years. She enjoyed playing the piano, gardening, painting, reading and especially her grandchildren.

Survivors include her children: Arlo and wife Mary of Massena; Kent and wife Julia of Massena; Karen Oathoudt and husband Dennis of Atlantic; a daughter-in-law Shirley Stender of Massena; her 13 grandchildren, Anthony Stender and wife Teresa of Massena, Rick Stender and wife Janell of Bridgewater, Iowa, Julie Symonds and husband Curt of Massena, Jennifer Arp and husband John of Massena, John Stender of Boston, Massachusetts, Terry Oathoudt and friend Cindy Karns of Anita, Iowa, Krista McDonald and husband Brad of Great Falls, Montana, John Oathoudt and wife Shelbi of Massena, Jason Oathoudt of Massena, Kevin Stender and wife Mendy of Massena, Tamela Riker and husband Dan of Atlantic, Rachel White and husband Shawn of Cumberland, Iowa and Rana Stender of Massena; 19 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law Helen Chester of Anita; a brother-in-law Dr. Albert Holcomb II of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Preceding her in death, in addition to her husband, were her son Ernest John; her parents; her sisters, Inez Schilling, Clara Stromgren, Eva Mingus and a baby sister Neva Barton; her brothers, Sylvan Barton, Roy Barton and Clyde Barton.