Elsena Bender, 99, died on Oct. 4, 2026, at The University of Kansas, Great Bend. She was born Nov. 25, 1926, in Russell County, the daughter of Gottfried and Molly (Niedenthal) Stricker. She married Hubert Bender on July 20, 1947, at Bender Hill Church in Russell County. Hubert passed away Aug. 19, 2003. She was a resident of Great Bend since 1951.

Elsena was a homemaker, receptionist at Miller Printers, and Great Bend Housing Authority, and she served as bowling secretary for Twilighters for 20 years. Elsena also enjoyed playing cards, gardening, and visiting family. She served as a Girl Scout troop leader and as the first director of Camp Aldrich Girl Scout Camp. She attended a water aerobics class until age 97, thanks to the Senior Center transportation and her friends in the class who helped her.

Elsena was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Friendship Circle, Beta Sigma Phi, EHU, tournament bowling teams, church choir, and served her church in multiple capacities. Over the years, she and her husband planned and attended many GBHS music events, sporting events, after-prom parties, and eventually their interests grew to activities and sports at Kansas University.

Elsena was recognized over the years as an AFS volunteer (two exchange students), Great Bend Bowling Hall of Fame, Kansas Merit Mother in 1978, and Kiwanis Outstanding Community Service award in 1977, with her husband. Christmas Eve at Elsena’s was a treasured family tradition. No matter how large the family became or where life took them, Christmas meant coming home. Her house was filled with children, grandchildren, and eventually great- and great-great- grandchildren, creating a tradition that became part of the fabric of the Bender family.

Survivors include two sisters, Kathryn Booth, Mary Doonan; one brother, Tom (Judy) Stricker; four daughters, Karla Leibham of Lenexa, Tina (Rick) Hiss of Great Bend, Debbie (Allan) Allford of Scottsdale, Ariz., Kathi (Denny) Brinkmann of St. Charles, Mo.; five children of Marvin and Thelma Brack for whom she was guardian, Connie Pitman of Topeka, Marvin (Marla) Brack of Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., Arlen Brack of Palatka, Fla., Denise (Monty) Hobbs of Lawrence, Anita Lupton of Kingwood, Texas; 15 grandchildren, Peter Jr. (Wendy) Leibham, Kirsten (Chris) Parker, Michelle (Aaron) Peck, Brad (Nikki) Hiss, Josh (Lauren) Allford, Ben Allford, Sheri Wilson, Kelli (Ryan) Grieves, Katelyn Hobbs, Ryan Hobbs, Haley (Tucker) Sutter, Kevin (Laura) Lupton, Kathryn (Justin) Cox, Greg Lupton, Lexie (Ryan) Held; two step-grandchildren, Matt (Jennifer) Brinkmann, Andy (Rhianna) Brinkmann,; 16 great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; senior companion, Roberta Barlow; Norwegian exchange daughter, Annette Gunderson; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 56 years, Hubert; companion, Ken Warner; three sons-in-law, Brent Lupton, Peter Leibham, and Larry Pitman; two grandsons, Tevin Brack, Darrin Leibham; three sisters, Rozella Van Reenan, Helen Michaelis, Lenetta Springer; seven brothers, Elmer, Harvey, Dean, Bob, Glen, Fritz; infant Stricker, Pam Daniels; and several in-laws.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rachel Kitch presiding. Burial will follow at Great Bend Cemetery. Visitation is available from noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, with family receiving guests from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Memorials may be made out to the Trinity Lutheran Women Fellowship or Bender Hill Cemetery, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Rd.

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 6, 2026