July 31, 1959 – December 29, 2024
Mass of Christian Burial for Barry Bender, MD, 65, of Spearfish was held January 6, 2025, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mobridge. Burial was at the Greenwood Cemetery at Mobridge under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Dr. Barry Donell Bender passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at Monument Health in Spearfish.
He was born on July 31, 1959 to Marlyn and Clarice (Lawrence) Bender. He attended school in Mobridge and graduated in 1977 and graduated from medical school at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, in 1988. He completed his four-year Emergency Medicine residency program in Oklahoma City, OK. Barry worked in several locations including Tucson, AZ, Estes Park, CO, Steamboat Springs, CO, Oklahoma City, OK, and Rapid City and Hot Springs.
Barry always lit up a room with his personality, making patients feel comfortable. His many friends and relatives could count on his professional medical care. He received numerous awards and recognition for being an excellent provider.
He was the Arena Doctor at the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche and the Days of ‘76 in Deadwood. He rarely missed attending the National Finals Rodeo, where he loved to gather with longtime friends and family and make new friends. He also enjoyed watching the rodeo action, with his favorite being “The Daddy of ‘Em All, Cheyenne Frontier Days.”
Barry loved, revered, and shadowed his dad. Barry enjoyed working on the family ranch, calving, branding, haying, fencing, etc.
Barry’s hospitality was gracious, and he opened his home to all, making lifelong friends who loved and respected him. Barry lived an old cowboy lifestyle, having a bunkhouse offered to those in need. His home was filled with music, singing, laughter, and story telling. When singing he sounded like Johnny Cash, his favorite country artist. Gatherings were common at Barry’s house, including weddings and various other festivities.
Barry is survived by his mother, Clarice, of rural Mobridge; his children, Bridger and Brooke; seven siblings: Boyce (Karin), Doyle, Le’Ann, Dana (Miah), Shayne (Jody), Bryan (Karlys), and Muffa (Casey) Keller; many nieces and nephews; and his aunts, Janet Keckler, Almeda Lawrence, and Faye Kraft.
He was preceded in death by his dad, Marlyn Bender; grandparents Robert and Delphine Lawrence and Jacob and Minnie Bender; nephew Tyler; and other relatives.
(Clarice and Le’Ann Bender’s address is PO Box 704, Mobridge, SD 57601.)