Shirley A. Bonser

A funeral service for Shirley A. Bonser will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand, Nebraska, with Pastor John Strackbein officiating. Interment will follow at the Highland Cemetery in Bertrand.

Shirley Ann Bonser, 91 years of age, of Bertrand, passed away on May 22, 2026, at the Bertrand Nursing Home. Shirley was born on the family farm northwest of Lexington, Nebraska, on April 7, 1935, the youngest of four children, born to Frank and Marie "Mary" (Hess) Daiss. She received her education from the Lutheran Day School in Lexington and later attended and graduated from Lexington High School in the class of 1953. Shirley attended Air Traffic Control School in Omaha, Nebraska.

Following her education, Shirley worked at the Northwestern Bell Telephone company in Lexington from 1954 to 1961.

On September 3, 1961, Shirley was united in marriage to James "Marion" Bonser at Lexington, Nebraska and to this union two daughters were born: Ann and Kimberly. The family made their home at Bertrand, where Shirley was a housewife as the children were growing up. In 1978, she started working for Becton Dickinson in Holdrege and retired in 1997.

Shirley enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles, reading, and doing word search and crossword puzzles. She was an excellent cook and liked to experiment with interesting recipes. Above all, she relished spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and the M&M Women's Group. She was a board member for the Bertrand Housing Authority and the Bertrand Senior Center.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James "Marion" Bonser; one brother, Howard (Betty) Daiss; two sisters: Frances (Danny) Matera; Bonnie (Lloyd) Porter; two brothers-in-law: Junior (Dixie) Bonser; Bud (Marie) Bonser; sister-in-law, Dorothy (Paul) Lavene; one special cousin, Charlie (Audrey) Winheim; four nephews: Garry Williams; Darrel Lavene; Kent Lavene; and Marlo Kreutzer.

Shirley is survived by two daughters: Ann Bartels and her husband, Larry of Bertrand; and Kim Houlden of Lincoln, Nebraska; five grandchildren: Trenton Bartels (Jo Johnson) of Holdrege; Jamelle (Ryan) Brooks of Glenville, Nebraska; Megan Houlden of Lincoln; Cole Houlden (Krissy Witt) of Lincoln; and Blaine Houlden of Lincoln; six great-grandchildren: Millie and Oakley Brooks; Tatum Witt; Penelope Strothkamp; Breck Houlden; Bruin Haskell; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A visitation will be held on Monday, June 1, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand.

Memorials in Shirley's honor are suggested to the Bertrand Volunteer Fire Department or to the Bertrand Senior Center.

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.