Lester “Les” Amen, 88, of Woonsocket, passed away Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. at Basham Funeral Home in Woonsocket, with burial to follow in Carthage at Pleasant View Cemetery with military honors by Woonsocket Post 29. Visitation with family present will be Wednesday, Nov. 1 at Basham Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m.
Lester was born Sept. 28, 1929, at Carthage, to George L. and Edna A. (Schumaker) Amen. He attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen for two years and served in the Air Force from 1950 to 1954. Les later opened a bar in Carthage, The Cabaret, and then opened one in Woonsocket, Les’s Bar. After his spotlight in the food, beverage and entertainment industry, he sold insurance and insurance accessories. Les later focused his talents on his love of pool and golf.
Lester is survived by his children, Theodore (Ted) M. Amen of Gillette, Wyo., and George L. Amen of Las Vegas, Nev.; and special friend, Kay Clayton and family of Woonsocket.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Fred Amen of Lake Norden, and Reva Taylor of Newcastle, Wyo.

Robert Bender, 57, of Fulton, died Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, as a result of an automobile accident.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Oct. 31, at St. Mary of Mercy Catholic Church in Alexandria with burial at Graceland Cemetery in Fulton. Visitation was from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, at the church with a 7 p.m. prayer service.
Robert Lloyd Bender was born June 20, 1960, in Mitchell, to Lloyd and Jane (Rehorst) Bender. He graduated from Hanson High School in 1978. After graduation from South Dakota State University, he farmed with his father and also worked as a seed dealer for Wensman Seed Company.
Robert married Susan Schieffer on Feb. 14, 1991, in Mitchell. He loved spending Friday nights with his family, especially his two granddaughters. He enjoyed riding his Harley, fishing and hunting, and had a passion for being on the farm.
Robert is survived by four children, Patrick (Jenica) Bender of Forestburg, and Jacob (Miranda) Bender, Tristan Bender, and Savannah Bender, all of Fulton; his father, Lloyd Bender of Fulton; two granddaughters; sisters, Christie (Jeff) Ellison of Sioux Falls, Betsy (Matt) Tobin of Fulton, and Barbie (Jay) Janssen of St. Bonifacius, Minn.; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Susan in 2007; daughter, Samantha in 2006; and mother, Jane in 2010.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell.