Daniel Bender

Born in 1952, Daniel H. Bender was the sixth of eight children born in North Canton, Ohio, to Keith and Catherine Bender (deceased). His siblings include James (deceased), Robert (Australia), Anne (deceased), Mary (Louisville, KY), David (Canal Fulton, Ohio), Jeanne (North Canton, Ohio), and Linda (Fayetteville, AR). He is survived by many nieces and nephews and his best friends Ernie and Judy Coleman.

Dan graduated from Jackson Memorial High School in Massillon, Ohio, and was awarded a theater scholarship to Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado, where his acting coach was Darla Wood of “Spanky” and “Our Gang” fame. He was a lifelong learner who graduated with a major in industrial arts and, in 1975, he earned certifications in: radio communications, locksmithing, master locksmithing, and in technical engineering. In 1987, he was awarded his underground electrician low-medium voltage certification. In 1991, he received his technical maintenance and troubleshooting certification. And in 1993, he was certified as a high voltage underground electrician. Among many other skills, he mastered: guitar, harmonica, banjo, chess, hunting and trapping, car maintenance, and cooking (more or less).

He served in the United States Navy in Guam and the Philippines during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in 1978. He was a longtime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and held a special stool at the Miners’ Tavern, where he could always be found. He enjoyed Budweiser products and brandies, graduating from Blackberry to Apricot most recently.

After tramping mines in Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado, Dan settled in Silverton in 1979, where he started a business making and selling candy and began an electrical repair business. He also worked in the mines around Silverton as an electrician. Later in life, he worked as a guide for the Old One Hundred Mine along with dear friends Ernie Coleman, John Ross, and many others.

He appeared in many productions at the Silverton Theater and was widely known for his musical skills. He was a self-taught guitarist and his songs and recordings as a member of Friends in High Places with long-time collaborators, Ray Liljegren and Judy Fisher, were beloved. Friends and High Places performed original songs for the National Geographic documentary, Violent Earth and regularly played at the Miners’ Tavern. In 1991, Korean Public Broadcasting filmmakers traveled to Silverton to record Dan and Ray playing in the Miners’ Tavern.

Many homes in Silverton showcase Dan’s exceptional woodworking skills and he built the Silverton boardwalk. Additionally, he handcrafted: mandolins, tables, coffee grinders, pens, and other items that were mainstays in Silverton’s arts and crafts community for decades.

Dan proudly served on the board of the Silverton Public Library for many years and was an outspoken supporter of literacy and the arts.

Additionally, Dan was well-known for having the most enviable rhubarb patch in town.

Dan passed away peacefully on the morning of May 8, 2022, and will be missed by many friends and acquaintances. Dan totally did not want a service; however, donations in his memory may be made to the Silverton Public Library.