Bonnie Gardner
July 11, 1927 ~ July 27, 2010
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Bonnie Jean (Larson) Gardner, 83, formerly of Pierre, SD, died on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller, SD.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 30 at Lutheran Memorial Church in Pierre with Pastor Don Block officiating. Interment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. Visitation will be two hours before the funeral service at the church.
Bonnie was born on July 11, 1927 in Huron, SD to Toma and Olga (Foshiem) Larson. She was the second of two children. Bonnies elementary years were on a farm near Howard, SD. She completed her education at Huron High School.
On March 3, 1948, Bonnie married Gerald T. Gardner in Minneapolis, MN. For four years they made their home in Huron while Gerry attended Huron College. Then, they moved to Boulder, CO while Gerry attended law school. In 1953, they moved to Pierre, SD and lived and owned two homes, 628 N. Grand and 635 N. Euclid. In 2008, Bonnie move in with her daughter, Susan Gregory of Pierre. Then on Feb. 3, 2010, Bonnie moved into the Miller Manor in Miller, SD with the help of her daughter, Jan Deuter of Ree Heights, SD.
Bonnie was employed by the State of South Dakota for 23 years in the State Museum. Bonnie worked in the museum that now houses the Soldiers and Sailors Museum located across from the State Capital. Bonnie researched census records for genealogy, cataloged historical photographs for use by history authors, she also cataloged all the microfilmed newspapers published in SD. Bonnie has been acknowledged by various authors in many books and publications for her contributions of South Dakota historical research.
Bonnie was a life time member of the SD Historical Society, the American Legion Auxiliary, 40 & 8 LaSaiete de framme, and VFW Auxiliary. Bonnie was an active member of the Lutheran Memorial Church of Pierre. Bonnie became active at the inception of the Countryside Hospice program and St. Marys Hospital Auxiliary in Pierre. Bonnie enjoyed playing bridge in several different clubs in Pierre throughout the years.
Bonnies memory will be cherished by her seven children (Bonnies Bunnies): Don (Lynnda) Gardner of Arvada, CO; Judy (Monte) Farnsworth of Pierre, SD; Tom Gardner of Littleton, CO; Susan Gregory of Pierre, SD; Jan (Casey) Deuter of Ree Heights, SD; Bill (Jessie) Gardner of Littleton, CO; and Jacque (Paul) Williams of Gillette, WY. Treasured in her life were 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Two brothers-in-law Marvin Gardner of Sioux Falls, SD and George McNamara of Milwaukee, WI.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Toma and Olga Larson; her husband, Gerald Gardner; and her sister, Annabelle Wright.
Memorials can be directed to a Hospice program, Miller Manor Activities, SD Heritage Center, or an American Legion Auxiliary Unit.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 30 at Lutheran Memorial Church in Pierre with Pastor Don Block officiating. Interment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. Visitation will be two hours before the funeral service at the church.
Bonnie was born on July 11, 1927 in Huron, SD to Toma and Olga (Foshiem) Larson. She was the second of two children. Bonnies elementary years were on a farm near Howard, SD. She completed her education at Huron High School.
On March 3, 1948, Bonnie married Gerald T. Gardner in Minneapolis, MN. For four years they made their home in Huron while Gerry attended Huron College. Then, they moved to Boulder, CO while Gerry attended law school. In 1953, they moved to Pierre, SD and lived and owned two homes, 628 N. Grand and 635 N. Euclid. In 2008, Bonnie move in with her daughter, Susan Gregory of Pierre. Then on Feb. 3, 2010, Bonnie moved into the Miller Manor in Miller, SD with the help of her daughter, Jan Deuter of Ree Heights, SD.
Bonnie was employed by the State of South Dakota for 23 years in the State Museum. Bonnie worked in the museum that now houses the Soldiers and Sailors Museum located across from the State Capital. Bonnie researched census records for genealogy, cataloged historical photographs for use by history authors, she also cataloged all the microfilmed newspapers published in SD. Bonnie has been acknowledged by various authors in many books and publications for her contributions of South Dakota historical research.
Bonnie was a life time member of the SD Historical Society, the American Legion Auxiliary, 40 & 8 LaSaiete de framme, and VFW Auxiliary. Bonnie was an active member of the Lutheran Memorial Church of Pierre. Bonnie became active at the inception of the Countryside Hospice program and St. Marys Hospital Auxiliary in Pierre. Bonnie enjoyed playing bridge in several different clubs in Pierre throughout the years.
Bonnies memory will be cherished by her seven children (Bonnies Bunnies): Don (Lynnda) Gardner of Arvada, CO; Judy (Monte) Farnsworth of Pierre, SD; Tom Gardner of Littleton, CO; Susan Gregory of Pierre, SD; Jan (Casey) Deuter of Ree Heights, SD; Bill (Jessie) Gardner of Littleton, CO; and Jacque (Paul) Williams of Gillette, WY. Treasured in her life were 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Two brothers-in-law Marvin Gardner of Sioux Falls, SD and George McNamara of Milwaukee, WI.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Toma and Olga Larson; her husband, Gerald Gardner; and her sister, Annabelle Wright.
Memorials can be directed to a Hospice program, Miller Manor Activities, SD Heritage Center, or an American Legion Auxiliary Unit.
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