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.