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Chris K. Bendorf Clerk Of Court Died Thursday

Long-time business man and office holder in failing health

Chris K. Bendorf, life-long resident of Blair, a former businessman and country office holder, died at the Blair Hospital Thursday morning, July 18th. He had been in failing health for more than a year and had been hospitalized for several weeks.

He was born at Blair April 26, 1899, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris L. Bendorf. He was 75 years of age.

He grew to manhood here and was married to Julia Jackson on October 26th, 1927.

He is survived by his wife and by two children, Charles K. Bendorf and Mrs. John B. Slater (Thomasine) of Eureka, California. A nephew Orville J. Denny, of Murphysboro, Illinois, who lived with them through high school and while attending Dana College.

There are three grandchildren, John Benjamin Slater, Jr., Charles Bendorf Slater, and Julia Margaret Slater.

Mr. Bendorf, many years ago, ran a combined furniture and undertaking parlor in the location of the present Lang Furniture store. Later he sold the store and established the Bendorf Funeral Home which he operated for 27 years. This was sold to Gene Kinnison and after several years of retirement he was appointed to fill an unexpired term in the office of the Clerk of the District Court. This was in 1958. He later ran for the office and was elected for three successive terms.

He was chairman of the Washington County Crippled Children’s fund drive in the country for 17 years.

He was a member of the first United Methodist Church.

He had a very active interest in Masonry and he held many offices in the lodges. He was a member of Washington Lodge No. 21 AF & AM; also Adoniram No. 13, Royal Arch Masons; Jordan Commandry No. 15, all of Blair.

In Omaha he was a member of Tangier Temple Shrine and Scottish Rites lodges.

Other Blair lodges of which he was a member were McKinley Chapter 161, Order of Easter Star; IOOF (Odd Fellows) Lodge No. 14 and Welcome Rebekah Lodge No. 27. He was also a member of Danish Brotherhood Lodge No. 206.

Funeral services were held at 10 o’clock Saturday morning at First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Gordon Patterson conducted the service. Burial was made in the Blair Cemetery under the direction of Gene Kinnison of the Bendorf Funeral Home.

From the "Who's Who" in Iowa GenWeb: BENDORF, CHRIS K: Funeral Director; b Blair, Neb Apr 26, 1899; s of C L Bendorf-Andrea Sorensen; ed Washington Co; Gaydon Bus Coll, Blair; Worsham Sch of Embalming, Chicago; m Julia L Jackson Oct 23, 1928 Herman; s Charles K; d Thomasine S; 1922-23 appr to E R Haggard, funeral dir, Blair; 1923-25 ptr in Haggard & Bendorf, funeral dirs; 1925- owner Bendorf Funeral Home, Blair; Feb 15, 1926 became lic embalmer in Neb; first funeral dir in Washington Co to have ambulance service; only one with pub address system for funerals; Neb & Natl Funeral Dirs Assns; Rotary, past secy; C of C; Blair Golf Club; AF&AM, master; RAM, KT; IOOF, past noble grand; Meth Ch, steward; hobbies, hunting, golf; off & res 304 W Grant, Blair.

Note: Buried in Blk 27Lot 7 Gr 9 in Blair Cemetery. Find a Grave #113533996.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~