Carole Faye Bender, daughter of Albert and Ila Marquand Smith, was born July 21, 1943, at Ardmore, Oklahoma. She graduated from New Hartford High School in 1961.       

            She was married to Daniel Gerst in June of 1964. The couple later divorced. On October 23, 1976, she was united in marriage with Reuben H. Bender at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Westgate where she was baptized and confirmed. Carole worked for ten years at the Sumner Bakery.

            Following a lengthy illness, Carole’s death occurred at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo on Thursday, April 15, 2010. She was 66 years old and a longtime member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Westgate where she taught the kindergarten Sunday school class for many years. Carole had many hobbies and enjoyed writing to her pen pals.   

            She is survived by two sons, Reuben (April) Bender of Oelwein and Ryan (Sara) Bender of Westgate; two daughters, Tamera (William) Brodie of Navarre, Florida and Angela (Rick) Green of Traer; ten grandchildren, Alex and Katie Brodie, Harley and Quinton Green, and Beux, Drew, Grady, Amyah, Cael, and Harlow Bender.

            Carole was preceded in death by her husband, Reuben in 2007; her parents; four brothers, Ellsworth, Eugene, Harry, and Donald, and two brothers who died in infancy.

            Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 17, 2010, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Westgate with Rev. Timothy Parker officiating. Friends may call for one hour preceding services at the church on Saturday. Interment will be at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery at Westgate.