Michael Melvin Bender, age 53, of Casper, WY (formerly of Mitchell, SD) died December 17, 2011 near Evanville, WY. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Monday, March 19, 2012 at the Mitchell Wesleyan Church with burial at Graceland Cemetery in Fulton, SD. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 PM Sunday at the Will Funeral Chapel. Michael Melvin Bender was born December 26, 1957 to Melvin and Dorothy Bender in Mitchell, SD. Mike was welcomed into a hard-working, loving German family, and is survived by his parents of Mitchell, SD, sisters Cheryl (Dennis) Kunkel, Lynette (Brian Clark) Bender, Dawn Bender of Oklahoma City, OK, and Peggy Sue (John) Rassel. A brother, Jerry Ray Bender, died in childhood. Mike married Genevieve Mojica and became a father to his daughter, Veronica Mojica, and sons Blaine and Michael Bender. It was determined on March 5, 2012 that Mike Bender had died. Mike grew up learning how to work hard, which he did with his hands, becoming a carpenter and woodworker. For the last 14 years, Mike worked at Defense Technologies, now Safariland, where he headed international shipping. Mike loved motorcycles and old trucks that he could tinker on, and going to Sturgis to enjoy the bikers. He could usually be found wearing his leather skullcap. Fellow workers and friends will remember Mike as always being willing to lend a hand, often working hard on their projects during the weekend, and sharing a beer and a good story. He continued to make signs and wood-working crafts as a hobby. Mike also was a friend to cats, even to the point of carving a wooden headstone for a friend's deceased pet. He never met a stranger and always had a courteous manner, a quiet smile and a firm handshake. He loved his kids and grandson, Malakai, and was very much a part of their lives, always there for them and reminding them "we're family". He is greatly missed by his family, friends and co-workers for the kind man he was.