BONNIE CARLSON
The funeral service for Bonnie Carlson will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 29, 2022 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Britton. Rev. Lloyd Redhage will officiate and burial will be at the Britton Cemetery under the direction of the Price Funeral Chapel.
There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.
Bonnie Lou Oberg was born on March 13, 1933, on the family farm in White Township to Clarence and Elsie (Motl) Oberg. She attended grade school at White #4 and graduated from Britton High School in 1951. Upon graduation, she worked at the bank in Britton until her marriage.
On New Year’s Eve 1952, Bonnie married the love of her life, Duane Edwin Carlson. They made their home on the Carlson family farm in Hamilton Township, where Bonnie enjoyed being a farm wife and especially loved riding “out east” with Duane to check cattle. Together, they raised five sons, who were truly her pride and joy.
In 1971, Bonnie began an 18-year career as Marshall County Deputy Assessor. In 1972, they moved to Britton and in 1994, with the help of their sons, built their retirement home on Clear Lake. They enjoyed life on the lake with the wildlife and beautiful sunsets, until moving back to Britton in 2002. After Duane’s death in 2012, she moved into an apartment and then to Wheatcrest Hills after a stroke in 2016.
Bonnie’s first love was her family, and she was famous for her abundant table at each holiday and family gathering. She truly loved Christmas— decorating, baking and preparing gifts for weeks. Right up to the end, she enjoyed playing cards and games, especially Yahtzee, which she and Duane played every evening in their later years. She loved playing cards with her grandkids, even teaching some of them to play poker. Yahtzee and Rummy were the entertainment at each visit during her six years in the nursing home, as well as eagerly viewing recent photos of family.
With a New Year’s Eve wedding anniversary, dancing was a big part of Bonnie and Duane’s life—especially their rousting polkas. They enjoyed square dancing and card parties with a group of friends in their earlier years. Music was another one of her loves, singing in high school and playing the piano. On lazy summer days, she could be heard playing and singing with her beautiful soprano voice---but only in front of her children. She loved the music of B.J. Thomas and collected all of his albums and attended several of his concerts, even scoring a hug and kiss backstage! Bonnie participated in several bowling leagues over the years and took a keen interest in flowers, keeping a beautiful lawn and garden. She also canned and pickled from her garden.
Having moved several times in her married life, she took great interest in planning and decorating homes. She spent countless hours drawing and redrawing her dream home over the years. She paid great attention to her appearance and had her hair styled weekly up until her death.
Bonnie died peacefully at Wheatcrest Hills in Britton on September 24, 2022 at the age of 89. She will be remembered there as the “cardinal lady” and for her strict attention to detail and loving gratitude to all who made her life better there.
Grateful for having shared her life are her five sons: Kent (Connie), Randy (Lynn), Bob (Julie), Rick (Julie) and Gary (Mary); 21 grandchildren and their spouses and numerous great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Mavis Jones, Janice (Neal) Krause, Laureen (Dick) Hyde, and many nieces, nephews and their families.
Preceding her in death were her husband of 59 years, her parents, her mother and fatherin- law, her sister Norma and her husband Robert Jahnig, brother-in-law Curt Jones, two great-nieces, and their beloved Sheltie and companion, Ginger.
Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Randy Carlson – 42462 109th St. – Britton, SD 57430.
An online guestbook and obituary are available at www.pricefuneralchapel.net.