ROCK FALLS – Helen Lorraine Bender, 79, of Rock Falls, died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, at her home. She had worked as a secretary for Sauk Valley Equipment and the former Nevada Distributing Co., both of Rock Falls.

She was born Jan. 13, 1933, in Sterling, the daughter of Raymond and Rema (Gaylor) Wolf. She attended country schools and St. Mary Grade School. She was a 1950 graduate of Dixon High School. She married Allen L. Bender on July 2, 1950, at St. Anne Church in Dixon. He died March 17, 2010. She was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Rock Falls.

Surviving are her sons, Robert A. (Shirley) Bender of Dixon and Earl “Jim” Bender of Missouri; her brother, Rob Wolf of California; her grandchildren, Matthew Bender, Heather Waninger, Teresa Bender-Lance, Raymond Bender and Annie Bender; and her great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Lance, Bailey Waninger, Morgan Waninger, Ava Lance and Damien Bender.