1919 (t) Mildred I. “Millie” Pendery

[Mary Susan Taylor]

1919 (t) Mildred I. “Millie” Pendery

Mildred L. “Millie” (Pendery) McConnell Bengochea

Reno Gazette Journal, NV Dec. 9, 1994 (scanned)

Millie Pendery McConnell Bengochea

Visitation for Millie Pendery McConnell Bengochea, 94, who died Dec. 6, 1994, at Physicians’ Hospital for Extended Care, is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. today at Walton Funeral Home, Reno. A Reese River, Nev., native, she wsa born May 15, 1900, to Tom and Annie Bell Pendery, and had lived in Reno for the past 50 years, coming from Mason Valley. Her grandfather was Sen. Thomas Jefferson Beal, a pioneer rancher and statesman, coming to Nevada in 1860 by oxen from Iowa. Her first husband, Ed McConnell, died in 1953 and second husband, Frank Bengochea, died in 1978. Surviving are daughters, Aloha Lewis, Dolores Antoniazzi and Delele Garaventa and sister, Muriel Browne, all of Reno; sister, Evelyn Rowe of Sparks; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, with burial at Mountain View Cemetery.

Reno Evening Gazette, NV July 8, 1919 (scanned)

At a pretty wedding last night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Bell, 405 Elm street, Miss Mildred Pendery became the bride of Mr. Edward McConnell. Rev. Brewster Adams performed the ceremony under a canopy of roses in a room prettily adorned with roses and other flowers. The bride, who was attended by Miss Elizabeth McGolffin, was dressed in a bouquet of white rose buds. Cecil G. Bell was best man. The young couple will go to Austin, where Mr. McConnell formerly resided, and will make their home there. The bride is a popular young lade and well known in Reno. Following the ceremony a wedding supper was served. Those present at the wedding were Mesdames T.J. Bell, C. McConnell, Cecil Bell, Annie V. Huyck, Misses Anna M. Moore, Villa M. Francis Katie McConnell, Alpha J. Rullson, Harriett McConnell, Viola Worthington, Elizabeth McGoffin, Ruth McConnell, Laverne Webster, Messrs. Cecil Bell, Lloyd McGoffin, Roy Bell, J.L. McConnell, Claude E. McFall, Earl McConnell, Howard O. Moore, Walter L. Bell, Carlton C. Wingerton, Charles R. McConnell, John Webster, Earl B. Juych, and Mrs. Annie Worthington.

Reno Gazette Journal, NV June 10, 19990 (scanned)

90-year-old Nevadan proves doctor wrong

By Rollan Melton

Nevada native Millie Pendery McConnell Bengochea was in such a health tailspin that her physician figured there was no way she would survive. Twice widowed, she was being tube-fed following surgeries. But her powerful will to live has prevailds. Mrs. Bengochea, sho is descended from legendary Reese River pioneer Thomas Jefferson Bell, was feted a fortnight ago on her 90th birthday by family, including her great-grandkids, fifth-generation Nevadans. Her Filipino housekeeper, Marcilina Jimeno, cooked up a feast that made the birthday girl say, “We celebrate with food and family! We celebrate with life!” Sabrina Bell also is descended from the arementioned Thomas Jefferson Bell, who came to Lander County from Pennsylvania in 1870. Sabrina just graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and her first duty will be aboard the ammunition ship USS Baker, out of Charleston, S.C. There is a military tradition in this Bell generation – sister Lt. Malia Bell Spranger graduated from the Air Force Academy three years ago. The young officers’ parents are Eeno dentist Craig Bell, a retired Navy officer whose first Nevada ancestor arrived in a covered wagon, and Rikki Bell, whose father was a Filipino immigrant.