Obituary - Ivol Marvin Bender

Ivol Marvin Bender, 93, passed away March 23, 2021, to be welcomed into the arms of loved ones that had preceded him in death.

His parents Peter and Wilhelmina said how proud they were of his life. His brothers, Ellington, Oliver, and Larry had drinks and smiles waiting for him if they knew what was good for them. He gave his son Douglas a few pats on the back. And he took his wife, Elsie, in his arms and told her "Sorry I'm late but I'm here now." He and Elsie were married for 65 years before she passed.

Ivol was born in Harvey, North Dakota, September 3, 1927. Two years later, in the fall of 1929, the family moved to Saskatchewan, Canada. In 1945, at the age of 18, he then moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta. It was there he married Elsie E. Renner and gave her his name June 15, 1945; and it was there that they welcomed their first child, the start of many more generations to be added to the family tree. Ivol and Elsie packed up their family to move back to the USA in 1946, settling in Great Falls, Montana. After having a total of six children and after 23 years passed, they moved to Havre in 1969.

Before Ivol retired, he worked as a farmer and at a flour mill. He switched careers to working with automobiles such as Oldsmobile and Cadillac at Bison Ford. Then he owned and operated Bender Body Shop, a towing and auto body mechanic shop in Great Falls and later in Havre. Elsie was always by his side working as the bookkeeper, answering the phone, and running for parts with kids and grandchildren coming and going in and out of the shop. Both enjoyed having family close by.

Ivol spent his spare time in his younger days playing in a band with his mother and brothers at barn dances, to whittling and making doll furniture for Elsie in his older years. In between, he loved to take Elsie out on the town on Saturday nights for dancing. Ivol was a member to the Moose Lodge in Black Eagle and the Eagles Club in Havre, where he enjoyed drinks and the company of friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elsie Bender; son Douglas; parents, Peter and Wilhelmina Bender; and brothers, Ellington, Oliver, and Larry Bender.

Ivol is survived by his children Gail (Paul) Tuss of Sedro Wolley, WA, Carol Bender of Havre, Debra (Steve) Krause of Dekalb, IL, Cindy Logan of Helena, and Lyle (Heather) Bender of Havre; daughter-in-law Sheila Bender of Marysville; grandchildren, Marvin, Tammy, Tina, Jerry, Terry, Christie, Charity, Robert, Josh, Jessie, Christopher, Jennifer, Stephanie, and Katianna; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place, and a celebration of Ivol's life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 10, 2021, at the Havre Eagles Club. A private family burial will be in the Manchester Cemetery with his beloved Elsie at a later date.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Ivol's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com .