Richard Eilert Bendix

He was born on October 1, 1943, in Glendale, CA. His family moved to Lincoln, NE, when he was three to be closer to family. Even though he was an only child, his parents were part of large families, so he grew up with many cousins on both sides. His family moved back to Southern California when he was 17. He graduated from Valhalla High School, El Cajon, CA, in 1962. He attended college briefly studying electrical engineering.

He worked in the computer repair field for his entire career. He started in an apprentice program and training with NCR in 1967 in the Los Angeles area of California. After several years, he joined Wang Laboratories in Seattle, WA, in 1979. In the late 90’s he worked at Digital/Compaq/HP before retiring.

After moving to the Los Angeles area in his early 20’s, he met Trudy Hoover in 1966 while working at a bowling alley. He was a short-order cook and she was a waitress. After marrying Trudy in April 1967, he joined the Catholic Church at St. John de la Salle, Granada Hills, CA, where they were active members for several years. They had five children – Tammy, Rob, Diane, Michelle and Richie.

After Trudy passed away in 1996, he met Laura Gunderson at a church dance at St. Madeline Sophie, in Bellevue, in mid-2001. They married at St Alphonsus, in Renton, in May 2002. Laura had one daughter – Sharon – whom he welcomed as a daughter. They moved to Redmond to live in the Friendly Village, before relocating to his cabin on Lake Quinault. After Laura passed away in 2008, he returned to the Friendly Village in Redmond.

He has been actively involved in Holy Family Catholic Church in Kirkland since joining the parish in 1979. He was an usher, sang in the 10:30 am Pro Deo choir, helped with many Youth Group activities, joined the Knights of Columbus, the Men’s Prayer Group, bible studies, and played on various Men’s Soccer teams for the parish, amongst a few.

He was a huge sports fan. He played baseball as a kid, yet soccer was his first love since participating in the first AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) in Southern California with Rob. At some point, he was a CYO or LWYSA coach or assistant coach for his kids, a referee, and a player. He was a huge fan of the Seattle Sounders FC, being a season ticket holder since 1994 in their ASL years, continuing when they joined the MLS in 2009. He also enjoyed European Football clubs, favoring Chelsea F.C. He cheered on the Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks, too. He also loved college football, namely the UW Huskies and Nebraska Cornhuskers.

He enjoyed camping and hiking, and he took the family on many road trips around the Southwest (in the family camper “Calypso”) and tent camping around the Pacific Northwest until he and Trudy bought a cabin on Lake Quinault. That’s when they joined a second Catholic family at Our Lady of the Olympics, in Amanda Park.

He loved country music. He grew up listening to The Grand Ole Opry and enjoyed Randy Travis, Brooks & Dunn, and George Straight, to name a few. He was a wonderful dancer with a two-step swing, making him a popular dance partner.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Trudy, to whom he was married for 29 years, and second wife, Laura, to whom he was married for 6 years, and his parents Eilert and Lillian Bendix.

He is survived by his children Tammy Bendix (John DeVos), Rob Bendix (Lori), Diane Roberts (Paul), Michelle Bessette (Tracy), Richie Bendix (Jen), stepdaughter Sharon Lane (Russ), 13 grandchildren – Liam and Keira Bendix, Cameron and Andrew Roberts, Christian (Tanya), Jovan, Skylar (Allie), and Grace Bessette, Teddy and Sully Bendix, Jennifer Roghaar (Ryan), Natalie Rich (Brandon), and Curtis Lane (Michaun), and 12 great-grandchildren – Bentley, E’Laynie, and Lorelei Bessette, Roxas and Jett Roghaar, Sadiee, Hunter, Ryker, and Harlie Rich, and Lucas, Brody, and Dexter Lane.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Kirkland, WA, on Friday, June 7, 2024, at 11:00 am. A reception will follow in the church’s hall.

Interment will be at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Bellevue, WA, on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 10:30 am.

A Rosary will be said on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 6:00 pm at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Kirkland, WA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in his honor to The Society of St Vincent de Paul, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Kirkland, WA.