Posted on: Saline Co. Ne Obituaries Board URL: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ne/SalineObits?read=7 Surname: ABELLA, BENDER, ILICH, KLEINHOLZ, LONGENECKER, McBRIDE, McNEFF, RICKETTS, ROSS, SAUGSTAD, SCHMIDT ------------------------- The Friend Sentinel, Friend, Nebraska, 5 Jun 1997 Grace Helen Marie Bender, 89, of Friend, Nebraska, widow of Fred McBride and David Bender, died Wednesday, May 21, 1997, at Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend. She was born July 2, 1907 to William Henry and Kathrina (aka Katherine) Elizabeth (Kleinholz) Schmidt at Friend, the oldest of three children. She graduated from Friend High School in 1926 and was later united in marriage to Fred McBride on December 5, 1927, at Dorchester, NE. To this union eight children were born, four daughters, Twyla, Norma, Valerie and LaVonne, four sons, Gene, Galen and twins, Wayne and Dwayne. In the early years of their marriage they farmed and lived in Dorchester, Exeter, Fullerton, Genoa and St. Edward before moving to California in 1956. After Fred's death in 1976, Grace returned to Friend, NE. She was united in marriage to David Bender on December 10, 1979. They made their home in Friend. Grace helped Fred farm and especially loved to take care of farm animals making pets of many of them. During the 1960s she worked at Bullocks Department Store in Santa Ana, CA for several years in the gift wrapping department. Grace is remembered for her love of her family, and especially the cinnamon rolls she always baked on Tuesdays. She kept busy with her garden and spending time with her children. Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Twyla and Allan McNeff of Victorville, CA; Norma Longenecker of Anaheim, CA; Valerie and Don Ross of Cottontown, TN; LaVonne and Chuck Abella of Victorville, CA; sons and daughters-in-law, Gene and Elizabeth McBride of Lake Ariel, PA; Galen and Jerry McBride of Columbus, NE; Wayne and Joyce McBride of Fountain Valley, CA; and Dwayne and Sharon McBride of Corona, CA; 33 grandchildren, 11 step-grandchildren, brother, William Schmidt of Dorchester, NE and a sister-in-law, Erma Schmidt of Kimball, NE. Funeral Services were held Friday, May 23, 1997, at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend, with Rev. Wesley Weiss officiating and Rev. Gene McBride reading the Eulogy. Additional services were held at Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary in Westminster, California on Wednesday, May 28, 1997 with Interment at Westminster Memorial Park, Westminster, CA. Pallbearers were her grandsons, Brad and Bryan McBride, Steve McNeff, Dennis Ricketts, Greg Saugstad, and Stan Longenecker. Elizabeth McBride played the organ at the Nebraska services and granddaughter, Mary Ilich accompanied the California services. Twyla McNeff was the vocalist in Nebraska and she and her son, Paul, were the vocalists in California. The congregation sang "Near the Cross," "In the Sweet By and By" and "How Great Thou Art." Solos were "What A Day That Will Be" and "He The Pearly Gates Will Open."