A winding road to PK and their dream home
Story by Steve Nussbaum | Photos by Matthew Renfro
This modern Texas design was built by Mark Anderson Fine Homes. Outdoor lighting was by H&P Property Services and the impressive front door was sourced locally by KC Luxury Iron Door Company
Ron and Cathy Bender didn’t start out intending for their Possum Kingdom Lake house to be their primary residence.
While their PK home was under construction along the cliffline in The Cliffs in 2023, the couple was living in their primary residence in Frisco, Texas. Upon seeing the incredible views at what was meant to be their lake house, however, they decided they loved their PK lifestyle too much to leave, so they sold their Frisco house and moved to enjoy the lake full time. They both said it was a great decision.
The couple’s PK relocation began when they went looking for a place to build a lake house and heard about Possum Kingdom Lake. One weekend they rented a boat and stayed at The Cliffs, and they found their perfect lot while working with local agent Jonathan Fowler of Possum Kingdom Real Estate.
The Benders then contacted local builder Mark Anderson, who met with them at the lot to talk about the type of home they wanted. They said they started listing all the things they wanted in their home, and Anderson began drawing it out on the spot. The end result was a 4,100-square-foot designer showcase that also has some of the most incredible views on the lake.
It’s been a winding road for Ron and Cathy Bender, but they are loving their newly built home in The Cliffs and have thoroughly embraced the PK lifestyle.
The road for the Benders to PK has taken many twists and turns. They first met in 2013 for a dinner date at a restaurant in Capitola, California. Both were clients on a dating app for people over 50, so after messaging each other they agreed to meet at a restaurant with a nice patio.
Both said they were skeptical of how things might turn out, because each of them had been misled by others on the dating app. In fact, on the night of their first date, Cathy Bender said she put the minimum amount in the parking meter so she could make an early exit if needed. Ron Bender, meanwhile, said he recognized his wife-to-be immediately, because many of his previous dates had used pictures of themselves that were decades out of date. The two hit it off right away, and they began dating.
Ron Bender, a retired musician, also had his own private investigation company for 35 years. He specialized in searches and backgrounds checks to find assets, but he also helped people find biological family members. Part of his business was serving papers to people in San Jose, California. At the time they met, he had sold his business, and Cathy Bender was working for Microsoft. After she received a promotion with Microsoft, they moved to southern California and got married in 2016.
The couple relocated to northern California when Cathy Bender, who has been in technology sales for more than 30 years, started working for AWS, a division of Amazon. She serves as director of strategic accounts and leads a large segment selling cloud services to major customers for AWS.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 provided an opportunity for the couple to move closer to their three children and grandchildren. Both had lived in Texas before, so the move was an easy transition, and it gave them the ability to spend more time with family.
The design of their PK house can best be described as Texas modern, with upscale touches throughout. Cathy Bender worked with Chelsey Becker, a designer who’s based in Kansas City, Kansas, and Aledo, Texas, to create a home that is comfortable, stylish, and has great outdoor living spaces to take advantage of the views and wildlife.
The exterior of the two-story home is clad in Texas limestone, and the front of the house features an elegant entry and custom metal doors that were sourced locally from KC Luxury Iron Door Company. Once inside, guests immediately notice the 180-degree view of the lake, with an expansive view the includes the dam, the southern end of the lake and even a bit of the northern part of the lake. A great view of the lit cross above PK and the stunning nightly sunsets never get old, either, so it’s no wonder the Benders decided to make PK their permanent home.
Upon entering the home, guests get their first view of the great room and the open-concept floor plan. The room is anchored by a stone fireplace on one end and by the modern windows, too, as well as a gourmet kitchen that has custom cabinets, high-end appliances, a gas stove and a huge stone island. There’s also a large dining space that creates a wonderful space for entertaining.
In addition to all that, there’s a well-appointed guest bedroom downstairs to go along with a designer bathroom.
The master bedroom also is located on the first floor, with high ceilings and access to a private patio to do some bird watching while enjoying a cup of coffee. The master bathroom features a luxury tub and a huge shower. Also on the main level is Ron Bender’s custom gym, which would give any commercial workout space a run for its money.
The second level features the Benders’ favorite room, the upstairs family room, which features a fireplace, a large TV, comfortable furniture and a custom bar. Off the upstairs family room is a large media room that has three rows of recliner chairs and high-tech media equipment. The home features several outdoor spaces, but the second-level patio can’t be beat. The cozy outdoor fireplace, comfortable seating and views for days are a family favorite. The Benders also installed electric built-in shades to enjoy the space all year long.
Downstairs, the outdoor living space includes several areas to watch all the activity down below the cliff. The top patio features a comfortable seating space and stone fireplace, and the stone outdoor kitchen and bar help create a wonderful outdoor space. The entire upper patio has electric shades for all seasons, while the lower patio features a firepit and hot tub that are located right on the edge of the cliff. All the outdoor spaces offer a unique view, but this Cliffs residence has one of the best views of the famous PK sunsets of any home on the lake.
The Benders, meanwhile, are making the most of their newfound life at PK. Ron Bender helps out at Charlie’s Angels, a food-delivery service for the needy in the Possum Kingdom Lake area, while Cathy Bender enjoys the women’s group at The Cliffs. Both enjoy attending Harbor Church, and they’ve jumped right in to be the hosts for dinners large and small at their beautiful home.
It’s been a winding road that led the Benders to PK, but the community is better for them being here.
As you enter the modern home, you can’t take your eyes off the incredible lake views.
The open living concept, dining and kitchen are the heart of the home and offer a great place for entertaining
The kitchen features gourmet appliances, a gas stove and is designed for entertaining.
Cathy Bender partnered with designer Chelsey Becker to make every room a modern designer showcase.
The upstairs family room is The Bender’s favorite spot and the entire home is filled with designer touches.
The media room is a comfortable place to watch a movie or a big game.
The lower outdoor space sits right on the cliffline. You can hear the buzz of activity below as you enjoy the hot tub or fire pit.
The outdoor space off the living room features a fully loaded outdoor kitchen and comfortable modern seating. The entire space has built in retractable blinds to keep the bugs out.
The upstairs balcony has a fireplace, comfortable seating and 180 degree views of the dam and expansive views of the south end of the lake.
The Bender’s home gym would be the envy of many commercial gyms.
The views never get old and every night offers a new sunset.
