Jimmy L. Bender, 63, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Dell Rapids passed away on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. His funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Kahler Funeral Home. Visitation with the family present will be from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2016 at the funeral home. On-line condolences may be left at Kahler Funeral Home.
Jimmy Lee Bender was born August 22, 1952 in Sioux Falls to Leo and Violet (Dyce) Bender, the third of eight children. After completing school, he joined the Army and moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, serving three years of active duty. He had returned to Sioux Falls, working at Johnson Auto Body as a painter, when he met Connie Rickeman. They were married November 19, 1976 and moved to Dell Rapids. After they married, he worked as a prison guard at the South Dakota State Penitentiary, while serving part time in the Army National Guard. In 1985 he joined the National Guard full time, and worked there until he retired in 2003.
Jimmy was a member of the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids for 25 years. His greatest joy in life was spending time and sharing laughs with his family. Jimmy loved watching sports, whether it was going to his sons’ games or watching a game on TV with his boys. He was grateful to share those moments with them. He both loved and hated the damn Vikings, often turning against them mid-game by rooting for the opposing team out of frustration.
He is preceded in death by an infant daughter, Tiffany; his parents, Leo and Violet; and his in-laws, Roger and Florine Rickeman.
Jimmy is survived by his three sons, Ben of Dell Rapids, Brady (Creta) of Denver, CO, and Ryan (Lindsey) of Sioux Falls; his granddaughter, Natalie; his siblings, Betty Bender of Clearwater, FL, John (Vicki) Bender of Westminster, CO, Bob (Deb) Bender of Hartford, Leo Bender of Sioux Falls, Diane (Gary) Kinsley of Sioux Falls, Carol (Jeff) McCarty of Sioux Falls and Ed Bender of Sioux Falls; his many nieces and nephews and Connie Bender of Glendale, AZ.