1921
Margaret
2014
Margaret Bender
October 13, 1921 — February 28, 2014
Margaret Jean “Scotty” Bender, age 92 years of Niles, Michigan died at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, February 28, 2014 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.
She was born on October 13, 1921 in Morris, Illinois to Alexander “Alec” and Vivian (Stephens) MacDonald, Sr. She was graduated from high school in Morris and earned both a bachelors master’s degree from the University of Illinois. She has lived in Niles since 1946, and taught at Niles Community Schools for thirty-eight years.
Scotty was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles. She was also a member of the Niles Garden Club, Orchard Hills Country Club, the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, and the Niles-Buchanan YMCA where she enjoyed regular exercise classes. She also enjoyed the fellowship of friends over dinner, and her greatest joy was her family.
On August 21, 1948 in Morris she married Donald F. Bender who also taught in Niles Community Schools, and earned statewide recognition in coaching. They celebrated the sixty-first anniversary of their wedding prior to Don’s death in 2010.
Surviving family includes their son, Steve (& Amy) Bender of Buchanan, Michigan; grandchildren, Lauren (& Justin) Bentham, Michelle Bender, and Alison (& John) Quartironi and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Don and brother Robert MacDonald.
The funeral service for Margaret J. Bender will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will be at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. A celebration of life will be offered in the spring at Orchard Hills.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday at the funeral home beginning at 5:00 p.m. Contributions in memory of Scotty may be made to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA.
She was born on October 13, 1921 in Morris, Illinois to Alexander “Alec” and Vivian (Stephens) MacDonald, Sr. She was graduated from high school in Morris and earned both a bachelors master’s degree from the University of Illinois. She has lived in Niles since 1946, and taught at Niles Community Schools for thirty-eight years.
Scotty was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles. She was also a member of the Niles Garden Club, Orchard Hills Country Club, the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, and the Niles-Buchanan YMCA where she enjoyed regular exercise classes. She also enjoyed the fellowship of friends over dinner, and her greatest joy was her family.
On August 21, 1948 in Morris she married Donald F. Bender who also taught in Niles Community Schools, and earned statewide recognition in coaching. They celebrated the sixty-first anniversary of their wedding prior to Don’s death in 2010.
Surviving family includes their son, Steve (& Amy) Bender of Buchanan, Michigan; grandchildren, Lauren (& Justin) Bentham, Michelle Bender, and Alison (& John) Quartironi and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Don and brother Robert MacDonald.
The funeral service for Margaret J. Bender will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will be at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. A celebration of life will be offered in the spring at Orchard Hills.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday at the funeral home beginning at 5:00 p.m. Contributions in memory of Scotty may be made to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA.
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