CHESTER L. "CHET" BENDT, age 74, of Luverne, died Friday, October 25, 2013, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD. He was born January 7, 1939, in Luverne, to Charlie and Anna (Schmidt) Bendt. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Jasper and attended country school in Dist. 36 near Jasper.
Chet married Mary Ann Toms on September 1, 1956, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. After their marriage, the couple lived in Luverne and he was a Police Officer. They moved to Lead, SD in 1962 for a short time and worked as a Gold Miner before moving back to Luverne and was a Luverne Police Officer and later became the Police Chief.  He was a volunteer Fire Fighter. In 1978, they moved to Sioux Falls, SD where they owned & operated The OK Shoe Repair and Mary's Mending on East 8th before moving the store to East 10th in 1994. They returned to Luverne in the fall of 2005. Chet was diagnosed with cancer in May of 2013.
He was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne; and a former member of St. Lambert Catholic Church in Sioux Falls, SD. Chet enjoyed working, his grandchildren and family, yard work, landscaping and rodeo's.
Chet is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Bendt, Luverne; four children, Kathy (Lee) Hamann, Luverne; David (Doreen) Bendt, Madison, SD; Christy (Jerry) Reisch, Luverne; and Chester Bendt Jr., Luverne; nine grandchildren, Beth (Brian) Loosbrock,  Matt Hamann, Paul (Chrissy) Hamann; Zach (Theresa) Bendt, Danny (Shannon) Bendt,  Jesse (Cori) Reisch,  Stephanie, (Byron) Gilliland, Natalie Reisch and Abby Reisch; Seven great grandchildren, Mya & Mason Loosbrock, Kamryn Bendt, Jaden Reisch, Makenzi & Luke Reisch and Elleigh Gilliland; two sister-in-laws, Geneva Bendt, Sioux Falls, SD and Bessie Bendt, Pipestone, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers, Harold, Russell, Earl and Charles (Ole) Bendt..
Visitation will be from 4-7 pm Thursday, with parish prayers at  6:30 pm the Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne; and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Funeral Mass will be 2 pm Friday at St. Catherine Catholic Church, in Luverne officiated by Fr. Thomas Jennings. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
To view an online obituary, sign a virtual register book, or order flowers, please visit www.dingmannandsons.com

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