Royce Bender, 76, of rural Martin, ND died Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the St. Aloisius Nursing Home, Harvey.

Funeral services will be held at the Martin Baptist Church, Martin, ND on Thursday January 20 at 2:00 p.m.

Visitation will be at the Hertz Funeral Home, Harvey on Wednesday January 19 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Royce was born on September 22, 1934 in Harvey. He was the son of Edwin and Martha (Henne) Bender. Royce grew up on a farm near Martin. He attended elementary school in Martin and graduated from the Martin High School in 1952. Royce married Cleo Eckart on May 21, 1957 in Martin. He farmed with his father and also worked part time at Nelson Implement in Harvey. In 1967 he started his own carpentry business. He built and remodeled homes. He took over the family farm in 1971 when his father retired.

Royce and Cleo were privileged to adopt two children, Brad in 1967 and Pamela in 1973. In 1993, Royce and Cleo became legal guardians for and raised Kayellynn Lee, Pamela's daughter.

Due to his failing health, Royce spent a year living at the Maddock Memorial Home. He moved into the St. Aloisius Nursing Home in Harvey last July. On December 10, 2010, Royce suffered a stroke. Royce went home to be with his Lord on January 15, 2011.

Royce accepted the Lord as his personal Savior as a teenager. Later he was baptized and became a member of the Martin Baptist Church, where he served as Trustee and Deacon.

Royce is survived by his wife, Cleo of Martin; son, Brad (Becky) Bender of Kelowna, British Columbia; daughter Pamela Bender of Harvey; five grandchildren, Kayellynn, Michael, Brianna, Jonathan, and Hannah Bender; sisters, Alice Reichenberger of Bismarck and Carol (Dave) Hauser of Williston. Royce was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Martha.