Edward Leroy Bender, Md

Edward L Bender was born June 19, 1945 in Valley City, North Dakota, to Lyle and Helen (Rasmusson) Bender and grew up on farms in Dazey, ND and Cooperstown, ND. He graduated valedictorian from Cooperstown High School in 1963 in a class of 38 students. He graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor's degree and then went to the UND Medical School, a two year school. He transferred to the CU Medical School in Denver for two more years where he received his MD degree.

Ed married Marjean Loge on June 9th, 1968 and they adopted two children, siblings Casandra and Jason in 1974.

Ed joined the Navy after med school and interned in the Navy in San Diego. He then did a two year family practice residency at Camp Pendleton Marine base and had two more years there as pay back time.

The family moved to Fort Collins in 1976 where Ed joined the Family Clinic of Fort Collins, retiring in 2013. His patients loved him. He had patience for patients and saw them everywhere: Disneyworld, National Parks and even at the Tower of London.

Sports were a big part of Ed's life. He was a lifelong Yankees fan; he and Marjean went to games in both the old and the new stadium. He enjoyed playing softball and tennis and won many trophies. He had what he called, a love affair with playing basketball and played it for over 50 years. He also was a scuba diver until he had one lung removed for cancer.

If there was a ball moving at CSU, Ed and Marjean were there to watch it, having season tickets to football, volleyball, and men's and women's basketball and going to the CSU conference basketball tournaments 33 years in a row except the Covid year.

He was an avid gardener, growing more vegetables than two people could eat so he gave a lot away. He was also a very successful beekeeper and got many pounds of honey each year which he used, gave away, and sold.

Ed and Marjean raised alpacas for over 20 years on their five acre small farm, having over 30 babies over the years.

Ed loved to sing and was in four different choirs. His bass will be missed by many.

Ed and Marjean did a lot of traveling. They have visited all 50 states, went on several European cruises, went to Peru and saw Machu Pichu, to London and Paris for their 50th wedding anniversary, and just returned from a two week trip to three countries in Africa, going on two game drives a day for three days in each country. Two very special trips for him were a hike up Longs' Peak with his son Jason and a rafting trip on the Colorado river down the Grand Canyon also with Jason.

He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Marjean, children Casandra and Jason, grandson Cody, three brothers: George (Sandra), Gerry (Carole) and David, plus many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held 2 pm, Monday, December 4, 2023 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 2000 S. Lemay Ave., Ft. Collins, CO 80525. You may view the live stream of the service by going to https://our-saviours.org/memorials/ .

Memorials may be sent to High Plains Honor Flight, PO Box 363, Ault CO 80610 or Our Saviour's Lutheran Church Choir, 2000 S Lemay Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525.