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Frieda Schrenk Bender

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Birth	:	12 Apr 1920 North Dakota, USA
Death	:	22 Aug 2009 Yakima, Yakima County, Washington, USA
Burial	:	West Hills Memorial Park, Yakima, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate	:	46.5819016, -120.6647034
Description	:	YAKIMA - Frieda Bender was born to Sophia and Gottlieb Schrenk on April 12, 1920 on a farm outside of Venturia, North Dakota. As the oldest of six children, Frieda worked hard even as a small child to help with the farm work. In order to help feed and clothe her five younger siblings, Frieda took work at a large farm nearby. From 5 am until midnight, she butchered chickens, milked cows and fed livestock. She also helped cook the meals, washed the dishes and washed, ironed, and mended the clothes. And Frieda cleaned their house, barn and chicken coop... Read More	YAKIMA - Frieda Bender was born to Sophia and Gottlieb Schrenk on April 12, 1920 on a farm outside of Venturia, North Dakota. As the oldest of six children, Frieda worked hard even as a small child to help with the farm work. In order to help feed and clothe her five younger siblings, Frieda took work at a large farm nearby. From 5 am until midnight, she butchered chickens, milked cows and fed livestock. She also helped cook the meals, washed the dishes and washed, ironed, and mended the clothes. And Frieda cleaned their house, barn and chicken coop plus cared for the children - all for the sum of fifty cents a day. Yet the rich family who employed Frieda wanted to take even that from her because they said she ate too much! Frieda continued to help support her family by working in nursing homes and small town stores until her marriage to Theodore Jacob Bender on December 16, 1945. That night, it was so cold that Ted's nephew, Edwin Bender, froze his toes getting to the reception. Little did she know then that her hard work and ability to endure the harsh Dakota winters would prepare her for even greater challenges in Washington State. From 1945 to 1959, Frieda and Ted ran "Ted's Service Station" together at 1314 E. Lennox Avenue - now Nob Hill Blvd. - across from the main entrance to Yakima's Central Washington Fairgrounds. Frieda often put in 15 hour workdays pumping gas, cleaning windshields, and generally waiting on customers in the station's "convenience store" while Ted serviced the cars and trucks. When her Shiela Mae and Bruce Lee were born, customers assumed the children were adopted! As Frieda did not want anyone to make fun of her for working while carrying them, she wore a special corset to hide her pregnancies. She worked up until her delivery dates were almost at hand. Old photos reveal that commercial truck tires often served as the toddlers' playpens. Though she was very busy running the day-to-day operations of the station, Frieda always found the time and energy to fix a delicious supper for her family. Frieda's recipes were tasty and became so well known that many German-speaking people from the Yakima Valley and surrounding towns often dropped by on Saturdays "just in time" to join the family for supper. In the late fifties, the gas wars initiated by the big oil companies drove many family owned filling stations out of business, including Ted's Service Station. With little funds, Ted and Frieda remodeled old homes and provided clean, affordable rental homes to struggling families. Because of tough economic times and generous hearts, Frieda and Ted had few resources to provide for their children. So Frieda made do with whatever was available. She helped Ted remodel a condemned house and created a lovely home for her family to enjoy. Frieda had gone "green" long before it became fashionable. A vegetable garden provided fresh food in summer and she canned food for winters. Colorful flower gardens brightened the family yard and her dried flowers provided welcome decor the year around. From local farmers Frieda bought live chickens cheap, slaughtered them in her back yard, and prepared and froze them for future meals. Local German women who prided themselves as good cooks eagerly awaited her newest creations. Little did they know during their midnight-supper weekend visits, the economy with which Frieda fixed those mouth-watering desserts. One of them was even featured by the food editor in the Wednesday Food Section of the Yakima Valley Herald, after the editor's daughter tasted Frieda's recipe at a potluck. On July 3, 1981, Ted, her husband of 36 years, died of a heart attack. Twenty-eight years later on July 3, 2009, Frieda suffered a massive stroke. Up until that time, she lived an independent lifestyle as only Frieda could. Following release from the hospital on July 10th until Saturday, August 22, 2009 Frieda resided at Crescent Skilled Nursing Care Home in Yakima, Washington. On Saturday, August 22nd, at 3:15 pm in the afternoon, Frieda left the loving arms of her son and entered into the loving arms of her Savior. Frieda Bender was honest and upright - the salt of the earth - a good Christian woman who for over sixty years was a member of the First Baptist Church of Yakima, Washington. During her 89 years of health, Frieda never asked anything of anyone. And she worked hard all her life. The greatest credit to her is that her children, Bruce and Shiela, are known to be "hard workers" too. Frieda is survived by her son Bruce Bender of Yakima, daughter Shiela Bender of Kansas City, Missouri, one granddaughter Charrissa, Mrs. Phillip Browning, and six great grandchildren: Isaac, Gabriel, Ethan, Elizabeth, Chloe and Justus - all of Port Orchard, Washington and a beloved sister-in-law and best friend, Martha Schrenk of Seattle. Viewing will be offered Wednesday, August 26, 2009, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Thursday morning from 8:30 to 10:30 am. A Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2009, at 12:00 noon, at West Hills Memorial Park.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Frieda Schrenk Bender's memorial?
Frieda Schrenk Bender's memorial is located at: West Hills Memorial Park, Yakima, Yakima County, USA.
When did Frieda Schrenk Bender death?
Frieda Schrenk Bender death on 22 Aug 2009 in Yakima, Yakima County, Washington, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Frieda Schrenk Bender's memorial?
Latitude: 46.5819016
Longitude: -120.6647034

Family Members:

Parent

Gottlieb G Schrenk

(1890 - 1958)

Sophia Huber Schrenk

(1897 - 1978)

Spouse

Theodore Jacob Bender

(1915 - 1981)

Siblings

Walter Schrenk

(1931 - 2011)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. West Hills Memorial Park
Yakima, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5819016, -120.6647034

2. Emeunot Cemetery
Wapato, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5243988, -120.6616974

3. Sloutier Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5231018, -120.6722031

4. Saluskin Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5266991, -120.7039032

5. Cowiche Natchez Cemetery
Cowiche, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6490840, -120.6885330

6. Yemowat Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5475006, -120.5730972

7. Nelson Pioneer Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6404310, -120.5831510

8. Calvary Cemetery
Yakima, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5790740, -120.5407420

9. Tahoma Cemetery
Yakima, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5753610, -120.5332320

10. Lewis Family Cemetery
Yakima, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5390013, -120.5052581

11. Pioneer Cemetery
Union Gap, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5578003, -120.4697037

12. Selah Pioneer Cemetery
Selah, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6720000, -120.5140000

13. Union Gap Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5209084, -120.4850998

14. Terrace Heights Memorial Park
Yakima, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6068600, -120.4598900

15. Naches Cemetery
Naches, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7299530, -120.6896990

16. Reservation Community Memorial Park
Wapato, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4484291, -120.5375519

17. Holland Cemetery
Moxee City, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5766983, -120.3861008

18. Shaker Cemetery
White Swan, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3891907, -120.6621399

19. Wenas Cemetery
Selah, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7743988, -120.6243973

20. Methodist Cemetery
White Swan, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3862686, -120.7268066

21. Yesmowit Cemetery
White Swan, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4009500, -120.8169600

22. St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
White Swan, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3764000, -120.7391968

23. Klick-Peter Cemetery
White Swan, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3748370, -120.7323250

24. Holy Rosary Cemetery
Moxee City, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5531006, -120.3585968