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Harry George Bendtsen, Jr., 79, a resident of Albuquerque since 1991, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2006. Harry was born April 13, 1926,the son of Harry G. and Mary Petrea Gylleck Bendtsen, Sr. in Elgin, IL. He was a graduate of Elgin Academy, class of 1944. He was a veteran of WWII, serving with 179th Inf. Regt., 45th Infantry Division. He received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the European/African/Mid East Campaign (Double Award), the WWII Victory and the Army of Occupation Medals along with Combat Infantry Badge. He distinguished himself as one of the liberators for the prisoners at the infamous concentration camp, Dachau. After the war, he continued to serve his country as a registrant's advocate to the Selective Service and he did early work on what would later be known as ADA (American Disabilities Act), beginning with the Truman administration. Despite being confined to a wheelchair due to the polio epidemic of 1949; Harry charged forward as if he had no handicap at all. He raised funds for various charitable organizations by criss-crossing the country to promote donations for these worthy causes. He also performed work with the American Red Cross, the Gideon International, and was a member and Chaplain for the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Zia Chapter. Harry is survived by his wife, Phyllis (Pulkka) of Albuquerque, NM; his children, Harry G. Bendsten III and wife, Kena of Albuquerque, NM, Heidi Shaffer and husband, Brian of Garlend, UT, Karen Vallejo and husband, Offad of Laguna Niguel, CA, and Jens Peter Bendtsen and wife, Jennifer of Veguita, NM; nine grandchildren; and his sister, Marilyn Brumit of Elizabethton, TN. A Memorial Service will be held today, Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of West Albuquerque, 6400 Golf Course Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM with Dr. Tim Marrow officiating. Ennichement will be in the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM with full military honors on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. Arrangements by Sunrise Funeral Options Rio Rancho, New Mexico 891-9192
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