Roland Bender

Funeral services for Roland Bender were held on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Bill Serr officiating.

Nikki Olson was in charge of registration. Casket bearers were Waylon Bender, Gary Pierce, Hunter Stas, Bob Serr, Justin Serr, and Kevin Moody. Honorary casket bearers were Otto Sweet, Wyatt Sweet, Josh Sweet, Doug Bender, Wes Serr, and Greg Bender.

Burial will be at a later date in the Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Roland was born on September 18, 1943, in Gregory, SD, to Robert and Emma (Hoffmann) Bender. The family lived south of Dallas, SD. He attended Pleasant Valley school through the eighth grade.

Roland met Judith Matousek and they were married August 25, 1966. Roland and Judy had two children, Jody and Waylon.

Roland farmed and raised cattle, milked cows for Mike Flaukas, and worked for Bob Bailey in the hayfield and with cattle. Roland went on many salvage adventures with his friend Don Brumbaugh.

Roland also helped Gary Pierce with some of his farming and considered him a close friend. Roland appreciated Wes Serr for taking care of the land he rented from him. Wes was a good friend.

Two of Roland’s greatest blessings were his grandchildren, Kyle and Hunter Stas.

Otto Sweet was a helpful caretaker of Roland in his last months of life.

Roland Ray Bender, 79, of Dallas, SD, passed away on December 9, 2022, at the Aurora Brule Nursing Home in White Lake, SD.

Roland was preceded in death by his mother and father; wife, Judy Bender; two brothers, Harold and Leland Bender; and one sister, Viola Nichols.

He is survived by his daughter Jody Stas of Dallas, SD; son Waylon Bender of Winner, SD; grandsons Kyle Stas (Vincent Lintilhac) of Chicago, IL, and Hunter Stas of Mitchell, SD; nephew Doug Bender of Gregory, SD; and many nieces and nephews.