VENTURIA, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Tony Bender, a publisher, author, and columnist whose words resonated with readers across the region, has died.

Bender’s daughter announced his passing on social media, sharing that he died Sunday evening.

A prominent voice in journalism, Bender was best known for his syndicated columns, which appeared in numerous newspapers, including the Wishek Star and Ashley Tribune. He owned both weeklies, which served south-central North Dakota communities.

Bender’s career began in radio, where he worked as a disc jockey at stations across the United States, including KQDJ in Jamestown, as well as Alaska, Denver, and South Carolina. His love for storytelling led him to a writing career in 1991, producing weekly columns, multiple books, and reporting for the newspapers he acquired in the 1990s.

Bender lived near Venturia, North Dakota, where he continued to chronicle the life and culture of the region with humor, insight, and passion.