Bonita M. Sturgis

A Joint Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Bonita M. Sturgis and Funeral Service for Evert L. Sturgis will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Holdrege Methodist Church, Holdrege, Nebraska, with Pastor Rhonda Wulf officiating.   Inurnment and Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery, at Holdrege.  Military Honors for Evert will be provided by the United States Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team and the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 of Holdrege.

Bonita M. Sturgis, 87 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska (formerly of Axtell, Nebraska), passed away Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Holdrege Memorial Homes. In her final days, she was surrounded by family and never let go of her husband of 68 years' hand before going to meet her Savior. Bonita was born March 19, 1938, in Holdrege, the fifth of thirteen children of Everett "Bud" and Retha (Geer) David. She received her education both at Mascot Public School and graduated from Loomis High School with the class of 1955. While in high school, she played volleyball, was active in Cheerleading, and was voted homecoming queen.

While working as a telephone operator, Bonita met the love of her life, Evert. On December 26, 1956, she was united in marriage to Evert Sturgis at the Methodist Church in Holdrege, and to this union, they were blessed with five children:  Julie, Karen, Jill, Jimmy "Koke", and Kristi. The family made their home in Loomis, Nebraska, and later moved to Axtell. Bonita kept the books for Evert's service stations, and in 1973, Bonita started working at BD as a receptionist. The couple retired together in 1998 from BD.

Bonita was a member of the Atlanta United Methodist Church and the Doe's Club.

She liked to bowl and was on several leagues throughout the years. She was an avid Husker, Kansas City Chiefs, and Kansas City Royals fan. The Sturgis family hosted the annual "Halloweenies Event" which became famous as the house that handed out hot dogs in Axtell. Above all, Bonita loved her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her greatest joy came from caring for the people she loved and attending their activities. She babysat and considered so many of them to be her "kids". For Bonita, family was both by blood and by choice. Anyone who was searching for the love of a family would find it at the Sturgis home.

In 2024, Bonita and Evert moved into Holdrege Memorial Homes, where they enjoyed spending time with each other, their friends, and, of course, constant visits from kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. The staff at Holdrege Memorial Homes became like family as they provided such good care to them both and to Bonita as her health declined.

She was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law; her grandson, Parker Sturgis; siblings: Richard David and his wives, Betty and Mary Lou; Ronald David and his wife, Lois; Dwayne David; Paul David; Roger David; and Peggy Piepenbrock; brothers-in-law: John Schell; Randy Luttrell; Dean Sturgis; and Duane Peterson; and sisters-in-law, Loretta Sturgis; and Linda Sturgis.

She leaves to celebrate her life, her husband Evert Sturgis of Holdrege; her children: Julie Hill (Bruce Schescke) of Oxford, Nebraska; Karen Hanson (Doug Hanson) of Axtell; Jill Silver (Bob) of Funk, Nebraska; Koke Sturgis (Wanda) of Wilcox, Nebraska; and Kristi Massey of Alda, Nebraska; ten grandchildren: Wynnie Hill (Brandon Gregory) of Holdrege; Desiree Hill (Scott Hamilton) of Oxford, Nebraska; Sturgis Hanson (Brianna) of Axtell; Andrea Silver of Lincoln, Nebraska; Benjamin Silver of Funk; Kylie Massman (Ryan) of Windsor, Colorado; Dakota Massey (Kenzie Thurman) of Hastings, Nebraska; Cheyenne Diedrich (Logan) of Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Sierra Massey of Alda; ten great-grandchildren: Willa and Rhydian Lincoln; Evee and Louie Silver; Crosby and Carter Massman; Jeremiah Massey; Saige Massey; Gracelyn and Dunham Diedrich; and baby Hanson on the way; her siblings: Elaine Schell of Holdrege; Johnnie David and his wife, Harriet of Longmont, Colorado; Mary Johnson and her husband, Ed of Alma, Missouri; Larry David and his wife, Cindy of Stromsburg, Nebraska; Retha Jo Luttrell of Lakewood, Colorado; and Mike David and his wife, Trish of Holdrege; three sisters-in-law: Donna David of Newark, Ohio; Pat David of Russell, Kansas; and Jane David of Kearney; brother-in-law, Eric Piepenbrock of Phoenix, Arizona; brothers-in-law, Dale Sturgis of Holdrege; and Chuck Sturgis of Holdrege; sisters-in-law: Dorothy Peterson of Holdrege; and Marge Sturgis of Newcastle, Wyoming; and an endless list of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, neighbors, and friends who will miss her dearly.

There will be no memorial book signing or visitation. The family is honoring Bonita's wish for cremation. We invite you to visit Evert at Holdrege Memorial Homes and her family to join them in celebrating her legacy.

Memorials in Bonita's memory are kindly encouraged to: Holdrege Memorial Homes or to the Atlanta Methodist Church.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.