Leah A. Bender, 44, of Fargo, ND passed away unexpectedly on March 28, 2026, in her home.

Leah Antoinette Bender was born April 8, 1981, in Moorhead, MN to Jody Bender. She grew up in Fargo/Moorhead and despite being diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) she was a very active child who enjoyed gymnastics, volleyball and swimming. At the age of 13, she was selected “Princess” for the North Dakota Shrine Bowl football game as she’d be doctoring at the Shrine Hospital in Minneapolis since the age of one.

In 1995 Leah and her mother, Jody, moved to Landisville, Pennsylvania. Leah played violin and worked at various department stores throughout high school before graduating from Hempfield High School in 2000. Leah met Robert Schnitzer while in high school but moved back to Fargo after graduating and worked at Quest. Robert finished his college in Pennsylvania and moved to Fargo to be with Leah. They had 2 children but later separated. From 2002-2008 Leah worked for U.S. Bank and after having her second son, Easton, went back to Rasmussen College and received her certificate in accounting in 2013.

Leah enjoyed going out for coffee, coloring, thrifting and shopping for clothes and makeup. She loved her Coach purses and found several while thrifting.

Leah is survived by her children, Damon and Jaycee Schnitzer, and Easton Bender; mother, Jody Bender; father, Timothy Ochsner; grandfather, Harry Haskins; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by grandparents, Roxann Haskins and Stanley Bender.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. with a visitation one hour before the service at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.