Ruth May Bender

Ruth May Bender, daughter of the late Mark and Patricia (McClure) Little, was born May 20, 1956, in Flint, Michigan, and departed this life June 17, 2018, at her home in Mountain Grove, Missouri. She was 62 years and 28 days of age.

She married Kenny Bender on July 13, 1994, in Waynesville, Missouri.

Ruth enjoyed life and the people in her life. She loved her grandkids and cherished the times they did things together. She loved attending her granddaughter’s dance recitals. She liked visiting with her neighbors and friends, especially over coffee at restaurants. She also greatly loved to go out for Mexican food. She would have fun listening to Michael Jackson and disco dancing. Ruth loved the outdoors and spent many hours tending to her flowers and sitting on the porch, watching the hummingbirds.

Ruth worked as a server in many restaurants throughout the years. She had worked at Sunny Side Café until her health started failing.

Ruth is survived by her husband of their home, Kenny Bender, three sons, Mark Marsa of Omaha, Nebraska, Randy Marsa of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and Kenneth Bender of Jonesburg, Missouri, five daughters, Pattie Rust of Houston, Missouri, Deanna Roy of Springfield, Missouri, Shelly Barton of Desloge, Missouri, Terrie Marsa of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and Krissy Crice of Farmington, Missouri, two brothers, Craig Little of Sedalia, Missouri, and William Rice of Independence, Missouri, one sister, Shelby Luythe of Olathe, Kansas, seventeen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends who will miss her greatly.