Sophie Bender

Sophie Bender, 89, Bismarck, died January 20, 2012, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 10:30 am Monday, January 23, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1109 North 26th Street, Bismarck, with Pastor Odea Sigh officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm Sunday, January 22, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Sophie was born June 11, 1922, in Russia, the daughter of Benjamin and Amalia Fromm Zimmermann. She came to the United States in 1952, and settled in Bismarck, where she worked at the Baptist Home as a cook. On October 17, 1953, she married Albert Bender in the chapel of the Baptist Home. After her three children were grown, she worked as a housekeeper for many years. Sophie, also known as "Grammy," was a gentle, loving woman with a great sense of humor. She loved to laugh, especially watching comedies on TV; "I Love Lucy" was her favorite. She was a wonderful cook and whoever would come to visit would get a 'Frrresh' cup of coffee as she would say with her beautiful German accent. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother, and her family meant everything to her. She loved animals and she enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels. She never wanted anyone to go hungry. She had quite a green thumb too. Her plants were always beautiful. She took care of them like they were her children. She also used to enjoy crocheting and ceramics. As a young girl in Russia, Sophie endured extreme hardships through the war. But her faith and courage helped her survive. There is a book about her life, telling her story, "Sofie, Sonja" was written by her dear friend, Berneice Lunday of Bismarck. Sophie is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Edie and Marv Kary; her son, Lynn; her grandson, Jason Kary and his fiancée, Jennifer; her brother and sister-in-law, Waldemar and Marianne Zimmermann, Troy, MI; her sister and brother-in-law, Bilha and Ed Bachmann, Pontiac, MI; her sister, Delila Sigmund, El Paso, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; her son, Sidney; her parents; her stepmother, Pauline; her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Irmgard Zimmermann; her little brothers, Rudy and Paul; her nephews, Heinrich Bachmann and Eckhardt Zimmermann and her niece, Ditta Bachmann. The family wishes to thank Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Medcenter One Hospice, The Terrace, and all the doctors, nurses, caregivers and staff for their wonderful care. Thank you to friends and clergy for their visits, love, prayers and support. Sophie was a special lady and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Sophie Bender

June 11, 1922 - January 20, 2012