Nina Yoder

Nina Marguerite Bender (Bontrager) Yoder, 94, of Kalona was born December 5, 1917 in rural Kalona, Iowa, the daughter of Lewis and Barbara Miller Bender. Nina Yoder died Sunday, October 7, at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City.

Services will be Thursday, October 11 at 11:00 AM at the East Union Mennonite Church, rural Kalona with Pastor Jay Miiller officiating. Burial will be prior to the service at 10:00 AM in the East Union Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, Oct, 10 at the Peterseim Funeral Home from 2-4 and 6-8 pm.

A memorial fund for Pleasantview Home or the East Union Education Fund has been established.

Nina attended rural Evergreen School and Kalona High School. She was employed at the E. J Hesselschwerdt Store prior to her marriage and the Miller Hardware Store for many years. She was a life long member of the East Union Mennonite Church where she was active in many facets including the Sewing Circle and Sunday school teacher. She also was a charter member of the volunteer group at the Crowded Closet and the Mennonite Central Committee activities.

Nina was united in marriage to Vernon Bontrager at the Bender home on February, 20, 1945. After his death she married Dale E. Yoder on August 21, 1981.

Survivors are her children; Lynn and Linda Bontrager of Cambridge, OH, and Gene and Judy Bontrager of Kalona, six grandchildren, Brian and Chrissy Bontrager, Karl and Andrea Bontrager, Galen Bontrager, Nevin and Natalie Bontrager, Derek and Nici Bontrager and Karen Bontrager and Zach Walton, four great-grandchildren, eight step-children; John and Janet Yoder of Spokane, WA, Kathy and Tom Quinn of Coeur d'Alene, ID, Dick and Jane Yoder Short of Kalona, Frank and Jane Yoder of Kalona, James and Anna Marie Yoder of Wellman, George and Debbie Yoder of New York, Bill and Kristi Yoder of Amana, and Dave and Lisa Yoder of Kalona, 16 step-grandchildren, Rebecca Townsend, Luke Yoder, Jonathan King, Sarah Yoder, Amanda Short, Daniel Yoder, Benjamin Yoder, Lydia Short, Ida Short, Laura Yoder, Jesse Yoder, Adam Yoder, Kelsey Yoder, Lindsay Swartzendruber, Rachel and Emma Yoder and 4 step-great grandchildren. Also surviving are three sisters; Mary and husband Lloyd Miller of Glendale, AZ, Vera Yoder of Wellman and Gladys and husband Robert Fisher of Kalona and one brother Daniel and wife Ora Bender of Harrisonburg, VA.

Nina was preceded in death by her parents, both her husbands, Vernon (April, 1977), Dale E. (October, 1995), a son, Gail Loren Bontrager, a great granddaughter, Caroline Bontrager, and two brothers, Clarence and Paul Bender.