Billings Gazette Billings, MT 4 Jan 2007 Marie Schindler met her Savior and enjoyed a long-awaited family reunion in heaven, the evening of Jan. 2. Mom was born in Wakeeney, Kan., Oct. 2, 1913, a daughter of George and Katharine (Batt) Bender. The Bender family moved to Montana when Mom was an infant. She was baptized in Kansas and confirmed in Billings in 1929 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. She grew up in the Huntley/Billings/Laurel area. Her mother died when she was 5 and her grandmother cared for her for several years. Marie passed from this life at the age of 93 from complications of pneumonia and a serious stroke, which she suffered on Dec. 29, 2006. Marie married Ervin Schindler in Billings in 1937. They became the loving parents of three daughters: Darlene Zimmerman, Dagny (Lyle) Hedin and Kathleen Schindler. They were married for 52 years when Ervin passed away in 1990. Mom was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. She loved children and had a hand in raising many of them, including nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A baby always brought a smile to her face. Mom always said she wanted to live to be 100, but on her 90th birthday, when told she only had 10 years to go, she told us, "I've changed my mind! I don't want that anymore!" I guess at 90, you have a right to change your mind! Mom was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Joining Mom in the heavenly family reunion were her husband, Ervin; daughter Kathleen; her parents; her beloved grandma; her sisters, Elizabeth and Katherine; son-in-law Bill Zimmerman; niece Helen Brown and grandson Billy. Left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss are daughters, Darlene and Dagny (Lyle); granddaughters, Tina Hedin, Tammy Zubick (Tim) and Tawnya (Mike) Galland; and her "favorite grandson" (favorite only because he is her only grandson - Mom never played favorites!), Tim Hedin. Also surviving are great-granddaughters, Amanda (Ryan) Kabeary, Ashley, Katie and Madison Zubick, and Kimberly Galland; and a "favorite great-grandson" (favorite for the same reason), Matthew Galland. Other survivors include a special niece, Millie Weber; great-nephews Layne and Wade Brown, and Steve and Gene Weber; sister-in-law Hilda Best; Jerry Ceynar, who "adopted" Marie as his great-gramma; and many cousins and friends. She also leaves behind her loving "second family" - all her friends and caregivers at Magnolia Place. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Big Sky Hospice. Services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at Smith's Downtown Chapel, 925 S. 27th. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Viewing will be Friday, Jan. 5, 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 6, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 7, noon to 8 p.m.; and Monday, prior to services at the chapel.