Elsie Bel Bendele Rothe, age 100, was received into eternal life April 24, 2025.  She was born in a small cabin south of Dunlay, TX, July 14, 1924. Her parents were Ernest Albert Bendele and Alice Pauline Haby Bendele.

Elsie grew up in Sturm Hill, north of Quihi, TX, where she went to school for 9 grades.  She then attended Hondo High School, and upon graduation, went to Draughon's Business School.  Shortly after Pearl Harbor Day, she worked for H. B. Zachry Company, building the Hondo Air Base.  On January 19, 1944, she married Ferdinand Louis "Ferd" Rothe.

After the war, they moved into their home on the Rothe family ranch, where she lived for 75+ years.  She was a devout Christian, and ensured that her children were also raised in knowing and loving God.  For the early part of their marriage, Elsie managed the home, ranch, and children, while Ferd ranched and worked for Medina Electric Coop.  In later years, she volunteered for the Hondo Garden Club and always cultivated many plants and flowers around her home and yard.  She was a wonderful cook, and always prepared large, delicious meals for the family, especially for holidays.  As a talented seamstress, she would make most of the clothes for herself and her children.

Ferd and Elsie traveled extensively with their children (and grandchildren) throughout the U.S., visiting all 50 states.  Throughout her life, she was a consummate Christian, wife, mother, friend, rancher, and historian.  You could see her on her daily treks from the ranch to Hondo, proudly displaying her "GO BEEF" license plate.  Elsie was the genealogist and historian for the county.  She could recite the family lineages for many different families in the county, knowing almost everyone's name, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – and where they had all lived.  Living 100 years, she was a wealth of knowledge pertaining to God, history, and ranching.

Elsie was preceded in death by her loving husband Ferd; her parents Ernest and Alice; sons John Louis and John Arthur; brother Hilmer Bendele and wife Melrose; sister Erna Lee Balzen; and sister-in-law Laurinda Rothe McGee and husband Dennis.

She is survived by her daughter Laura (Don) Abbott, sons Louis (Susie), Arthur, and Jack (Michele) Rothe; grandchildren Becky (Ramey) Goushey, Josh (Sarah) Abbott, Jenny (Bradford) Boehme, Michael (Michaela) Rothe, J'Lynn (Micheal) Smart, Larysa Gonzales, and Trey Gonzales; great-grandchildren Hailey Abbott, Chas Boehme, Eadee Boehme, Sadie Boehme, Emmylou Rothe, Alyssa Abbott, Ashlynn Gomez, Ellyson Rothe; and her brother Ernest Bendele and wife Fanita, and brother-in-law Joe Balzen.

Visitation from 6 to 7 pm, followed by Rosary, will be at Holy Cross Church, D'Hanis, TX, on Thursday, May 1, 2025.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am on Friday, May 2, also at Holy Cross Church, with interment following at Holy Cross Cemetery, D'Hanis.

The family suggests memorials may be made to the American Leukemia Society.