Bender, Merle Leroy (1922-2012)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2012 Jul 24 p. 5A

Birth date: 1922

text of obituary:

Merle Leroy Bender

89, Hesston

Merle Leroy Bender, 89, died peacefully in his home in Hesston on the morning of Friday, July 20, 2012, six days short of what would have been his 90th birthday.

Merle grew up on a farm outside of Milford, Neb., with his brother, Merton, and his sisters, Dorothy and Barbara, where his family toiled for years of Dustbowl-era drought and Depression-era fortunes. Small of stature but tough, Merle played high school football and baseball, and remained physically active his entire life. Merle attended Hesston College, where he received his AA in 1949 and where he met Donny Byler, his wife of 49 years. Merle received his BA from Friends University in 1950, and an MS in public relations from Boston University in 1953. Merle's professional career embraced the spiritual and the academic worlds with equal passion. He was ordained