Bonnie Deboer

BONNIE ELLEN (NIELSEN) DEBOER

May 16, 1940 - July 21, 2023

A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, Smithfield, NE, with Joe Wilken leading the service. Burial will be immediately following the service at the Hope Lutheran cemetery.

The service will be live-streamed via the Hope Lutheran Church Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/HopeLutheranChurchSmithfield

Bonnie Ellen (Nielsen) DeBoer was 83 years, 2 months and five days of age, when she went to hug Jesus.  On Friday, July 21, 2023, after a short hospital stay, with the love of her life for over 65 years by her side, she changed her address to Heaven.

Bonnie was born on May 16, 1940, on a farm north of Cozad, Nebraska, the third of five children born to Herman and Vivian (Wareham) Nielsen.  She was born prematurely after her mother helped fight a prairie fire.  Her mother kept her warm by placing her in a box on or near a wood-burning stove in their kitchen.  She had a fighting spirit from the first day until the last day.  She attended a rural school, District 13, until 8th grade when she finished her high school education in Cozad at the "town" school.  The remainder of her abundant knowledge she gained through living a life of leading and loving her family. She loved to HUG, rock babies, sew, garden, cook and care for her family and the many people who loved her.

Growing up her constant companion was her little sister, Vicky and little brother, Greg.  They had many adventures and talked to each other daily, even when there was a long distance phone charge.  Her older sister, Beverly, cared for the younger children and filled their bottles with milk from their dairy.  She had a favorite saying for all of us when it was time to give up drinking a bottle.  She would tell us to remember that she was five years old and her sister (Bev) would fill a bottle for Vicky and her, as Bonnie recited, "Fill my bottle, tie my shoe, get me a book and a pillow too."  She and Vicky slept together in a twin bed for many years.  Every night Vicky would ask to hold Bon's finger so the next morning she would not be able to leave the bed and do something fun and leave Vicky behind.  Bonnie loved to care for people, including a job at the Cozad Hospital as a nurse's aide.  She would have been a great nurse, but she used those skills to care for all of us after meeting the love of her life, Stan DeBoer in 1958.

Bonnie and Stan were united in marriage on September 28th, 1958 in Cozad, Nebraska.  They created their first home in a small, pink, two bedroom home in the country north of Cozad, where Stan and Bonnie farmed with Stan's brother, Bryce DeBoer.  Babies began to arrive after only one year and four daughters, Leigh, Kristy, Virginia (Ginny), and Johna were brought home for the first time to that little house.  In 1966, Stan and Bonnie moved their family to their present home in the country, north and west of Bertrand.  Another daughter, Stephanie, joined the family in 1968 and Bonnie's days were filled with fixing hair, sewing, cooking, and caring for her large family.  Stan and Bonnie weren't blessed with a son by birth, but when Byron (Stan's little brother) began spending the summer's helping on the farm and eventually after graduation moved in, it felt like they had been blessed with a son.

Bonnie loved her flowers, garden and yard.  She enjoyed sunshine and making things grow.  She was an amazing cook and she always had a snack ready for any visitor or family member who dropped by for a visit.  She loved to host amazing family holiday meals, often preparing and serving food for 60+ people.  Everyone was welcome and didn't leave without a hug and a full tummy.

Bonnie and Stan, along with their dear friends, Dick and Shirley Ford were instrumental in organizing and participating in the American Agriculture Movement.  They traveled thousands of miles rallying farmers to stand and be recognized for feeding the world.  They made many wonderful friends all across the Nation and traveled with the tractor-cade in 1979 to Washington D.C. to plead for a fair price for their products.  It was a difficult and life-changing time for all involved.

In 1979, Bonnie's 22 grandbabies began to arrive, and for 21 years her joy was found in her role as Grammy.  From the first time Luke uttered the name Grammy, she was a Grammy to any child that wanted to call her by that name.  Then in 2006 she was blessed with the start of her great grandchildren's arrival.  She loved to share that she had 29, almost 30, (when Livie and Grady's daughter arrives in a few short weeks) great grandbabies.  She was excited and loved on each one of them, always as exuberantly as when the first one was born.

Bonnie and Stan have been members of Hope Lutheran Church for over 57 years.  Bonnie loved her Hope family and continued to HUG on them until her death.  She loved Jesus Christ her Lord and looked forward to spending Eternity with Him and her loved ones who passed before her.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Vivian Nielsen; her in-laws, George and Myrtle DeBoer; two granddaughters, Jennifer and Jessica Ford; her sister, Beverly Soller and her husband Don; a brother, Donnie Nielsen and his wife Janet; Stan's siblings and spouses, Ileen & Fred Gengenbach; Bryce & Vivian DeBoer; Leon & Betty DeBoer; George & Beverly DeBoer; Colleene & Eldon Heller; and Bill Geiger; and nieces and nephews.

Bonnie is survived by her husband, Stan of almost 65 years; five daughters, Leigh (David) Ford; Kris (Kallen) Kuck; Ginny (Kevin) Loudon; Johna (Steve) Munch and Stephanie (Ryan) Rodenbaugh; 20 grandchildren, Luke (Cynthe) Ford; Abraham (Stacy) Kuck; Jordan (Brittney) Kuck; Kaleb (Erin) Kuck; Isaac (Mary) Kuck; Seth (Keshia) Ford; Atonna (Nathan) Siemens; James (Ashley) Ford; Allie Munch; Rachel (Dalton) Peterson; Sydney (Ethan) Rodgers; Hannah (Ricky) Martin; Anthony (Aubri) Munch; Olivia (Grady) Kowalski; Stephanie Munch; Megan (Thane) Motis; Collin (Steph) Rodenbaugh; Matthew Munch; Jenna (Clinton) Urbanovsky; Faith Loudon (Jake Knapp).  One sister, Vicky (Doug) Peterson of Gothenburg; one brother, Greg (Wanda) Nielsen of Valentine; sisters and brothers in law, Craig (Nancy) DeBoer, Lincoln; Valerie Geiger, Cozad; Byron (Jolene) DeBoer, Bertrand.  Almost 30 great grandchildren: Ella, Noah and Ava Ford; Owen, Grant and Leah Ford; Joseph, Lydia, and Emily Ford; Clay, Macy and Ally Peterson; Anja and Uli Kuck; Bella, Chloe and Samuel Kuck, Ellianna and Henry Siemens, Emmarie and Lynden Motis, Elaina and John Martin; Rhett, Brooks, Steele and Lincoln Rodgers; Kanon, Blakely and Baby Kowalski; along with many nieces, nephews and extended family members and friends.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church with the family greeting from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Memorials in Bonnie's honor are kindly suggested to Hope Lutheran Church or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

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