Herman Bendfeldt
July 10, 1929 ~ July 7, 2012
Herman ("Ben") Bendfeldt, Captain US Air Force Retired
"Jerry" (Age 82)
On Saturday, July 7, 2012 died at Falcons Landing, an assisted living facility in Virginia, where he resided for nearly a year after moving from his home in Gladewater, Texas. He waged a long battle with COPD and other illnesses. Dear husband 62 years of Martha Maikka who predeceased him. Beloved father of Lora Ann, Martha Sue, and June Elizabeth. His beloved son Gary predeceased him. Ben is also survived by six grandchildren, Aaron, Jonathan, Austin, Sue Michelle, Jesse, and Ian, and five great-grandchildren, Dylan, Christopher, Joshua, William Gage, and Alyssa. He has three surviving brothers, Erich Peter, Seth, and Steven, and three surviving sisters, Betty Ann, Judith, and Teresa.
Ben was born in Niantic, Connecticut July 10, 1929, the son of Herman and Elizabeth (Beebe) Bendfeldt. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Air Force where he served for 20 years, retiring as a Captain at the Rome Air Development Center (RADC) in New York in 1967. He completed Officer Candidate School and served with distinction in England, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and numerous other posts worldwide. After his military retirement he embarked on a distinguished second career as an Air Force Civil Service Intelligence Specialist at RADC. There, he participated in the design and development of a wide range of deployable and fixed site intelligence data handling and imagery interpretation systems and played a key role in the worldwide testing and fielding of these systems in Japan, Germany, Southeast Asia and elsewhere. In 1987, he retired from civil service and served in technical and consulting positions with the private sector. An avid hunter and fisherman, Ben resided with his wife Martha and family on Lake Delta in Rome, prior to moving to Texas for medical reasons and subsequently to Falcons Landing.
His military decorations included the Air Force Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
"Jerry" (Age 82)
On Saturday, July 7, 2012 died at Falcons Landing, an assisted living facility in Virginia, where he resided for nearly a year after moving from his home in Gladewater, Texas. He waged a long battle with COPD and other illnesses. Dear husband 62 years of Martha Maikka who predeceased him. Beloved father of Lora Ann, Martha Sue, and June Elizabeth. His beloved son Gary predeceased him. Ben is also survived by six grandchildren, Aaron, Jonathan, Austin, Sue Michelle, Jesse, and Ian, and five great-grandchildren, Dylan, Christopher, Joshua, William Gage, and Alyssa. He has three surviving brothers, Erich Peter, Seth, and Steven, and three surviving sisters, Betty Ann, Judith, and Teresa.
Ben was born in Niantic, Connecticut July 10, 1929, the son of Herman and Elizabeth (Beebe) Bendfeldt. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Air Force where he served for 20 years, retiring as a Captain at the Rome Air Development Center (RADC) in New York in 1967. He completed Officer Candidate School and served with distinction in England, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and numerous other posts worldwide. After his military retirement he embarked on a distinguished second career as an Air Force Civil Service Intelligence Specialist at RADC. There, he participated in the design and development of a wide range of deployable and fixed site intelligence data handling and imagery interpretation systems and played a key role in the worldwide testing and fielding of these systems in Japan, Germany, Southeast Asia and elsewhere. In 1987, he retired from civil service and served in technical and consulting positions with the private sector. An avid hunter and fisherman, Ben resided with his wife Martha and family on Lake Delta in Rome, prior to moving to Texas for medical reasons and subsequently to Falcons Landing.
His military decorations included the Air Force Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Please accept my condolences. Ben was a neighbor of mine when I lived on Martin Drive in the Town of Lee. We often ran into each other there and at RADC where I worked. Ben always had a friendly word and a great story to tell me. He was a good man and I, for one, will miss him.
My condolences go out to you.
I enjoyed my Uncle telling me about his fishing stories! He sure liked to fish and he was good at it! I will miss seeing and talking to him at the family reunions.
I’ll miss Grandpa but always cherish the stories he told, and the fond memories of the times he took me fishing as a kid. He was a fun guy who loved his family and was always willing to help and be there for them. He will be missed.
I met Ben thru my Father Walter Vladuchek SMSGT Ret USAF.They were neighbors in Rome but joined at the hip for Salmon and Steelhead fishing. Ben shared many stories about thier time on the Salmon River. He loved his wife and family and always provided for them.God speed Ben and FISH ON!
I cant find the words to describe how wonderful my Dad was. He was my Hero. He always made me feel safe. He loved the outdoors and taught me to appreciate nature. My Mother and him were so in love. I am glad they are together again but I miss them both.
To the family of Herman Bendfeldt, I am sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in knowing that God is “near to those that are broken at heart; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.” (Psalm 34;18) With sympathy,
To the Bendfeldt Family, So sorry for your loss, please accept my condolences as a former co-worker at RADC, Rome, NY. I worked with Ben for many years at RADC (from 1966-1985). It was so much fun for me and for anyone who knew Ben in those early years, as a former computer engineer. Ben liked to beat up on us RADC engineers and did a very good job of it. In spite of it all we all loved him. Ben had a knack for good humor, wit, and made us all laugh constantly in spite of our systems development differences. He will be sorely missed. God Bless you Ben, may you be in the loving arms of the Lord. Dan Ventimiglia Whitesboro, NY
I wiil remember Ben as a Jolly soul, with very pleasant memories.
Loved to hear him laugh when he told a story. He enjoyed Miss Martha and a good story
May the God of all comfort, peace and tender mercies be with you during this most difficult period in your life. (2 Cor.1:3, 4) Always remember that our Heavenly Father is a refuge and strength for us during all our distresses. And, please accept my deepest and most heartfelt condolences in behalf of your dear loved one.