Bonnie Joan Thompson

We’re here today to celebrate the life of Bonnie Thompson. She was a woman who loved without reason and gave without expectation. Finding great joy in seeing the happiness in others, from her family to her friends, to know Bonnie was to love Bonnie.

Bonnie was the second oldest of 6 children – her three sisters June, Janet, and Gail, and her two brothers Raymond and Delwood. She came from a very close and loving family whom she spent a lot of time with, whether it was big family events like weddings and birthdays, or playing cards with her mom, Janet, or whomever had the tenacity to deal with the old lady trucker mouth whenever someone was dealt a bad hand or caught cheating.

As many of us know, Bonnie was a free spirit and would try anything at least once, whether it was riding a quad, snowmobiling, or attempting to ride her son’s dirt bike, which only resulted in crashing into the front of the Quonset. But she never gave up, and fear never stopped her. Her willingness to try new things didn’t end with just the adventures of life; she also liked to experiment with food. As her granddaughter recalls watching a movie with her Nana once, and in the movie someone made a ripple chip and mayo sandwich. Well sometime after the movie, Bonnie decided that the ripple chip sandwich would be worth a try, and knowing Bonnie and her love for ripple chips this shouldn’t surprise anyone, she loved it! Another one of Bonnie’s food favourites was French fries dipped in vanilla ice cream, only small yet significant examples of her shining and unique personality.

Bonnie’s youthful and some might say “adolescent” personality made her always fun to be around. No matter who or what the situation Bonnie could always manage to put a smile on anyone’s face.

In her younger years Bonnie loved to travel. Whether it was packing the family up and taking them cross-country to BC or a solo trip to Winnipeg to visit family, she was constantly on the move.

She loved the beach. The lake life was a big part of her family., No matter the circumstances or what it meant, she would spend her last dollar if necessary to pack her children up and take them camping for the weekend. Camper in tow, she would park her family right alongside her mom and her sister Janet and her family. And weekend after weekend, doing the same thing, finding peace and joy in the happiness that the lake brought everyone.

Bonnie’s love for the beach also had some humourous moments. Bonnie loved the water, but more she loved to float in the water and for those of you who knew her knew that she was quite buoyant. For instance the time Bonnie went for a float while the family was on the beach catching some sun, and after some time passed they got up to cool off in the lake, they noticed that Bonnie wasn’t anywhere to be found. As they looked out on the water they could see a small dot off in the distance they knew was their mom. Off they went running down the beach yelling and screaming at her to wake up and finally she waved her hand and yelled back “I’m okay, I’m okay!” and laughingly made her way back to shore. This is only a small example of the serenity the lake brought to her.

Besides being a driftwood and rock hound, Bonnie had a love for all of Earth’s historical treasures. She was always searching for little gems, arrowheads and other sorts of treasures that she could share with her family.

Bonnie had a love for creativity. In 1976, she opened up a small little shop in the Capri Hotel, called Bonnie’s What Not Shop, where she created and distributed a variety of handmade items including rock pictures, jewelry, handmade ornaments and her favourite pet rocks. Her creativity struck in all dimensions, from her jewelry and rocks, to interior design, there wasn’t much that Bonnie wouldn’t tackle.

Bonnie was all about helping people. She loved making the lives of others a little brighter and better, whether it was as simple as a small family function or a big community event, it was such a natural part of her personality that she later took that and dedicated a large part of her life to assisting those who she felt needed it most at the Battlefords Trade and Education Centre, where she then worked as a supervisor for over 20 years. She loved and supported all that BTEC stood for.

Bonnie had an enormous amount of pride in her family and extended family. She loved her children more than anything. But as time passed and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born, that love grew stronger and deeper. Her grandchildren Christa Fluney and Curtis Latus had a deep impact on Bonnie’s life; she shared with them all her special memories. Enjoying her retirement by days spent in the park and summers at the beach with them. She loved showing them off, taking them with her on trips to her sister Gail’s house or enlightening them at the Space and Science Centre in Edmonton, Bonnie just couldn’t get enough of them. And as they had children, that joy was transformed into unspeakable happiness, her great-grandchildren Kayla and Braydon Latus and her newest little bundle of joy Liam Fluney were becoming part of Bonnie’s everyday world. She loved just holding the babies, rocking them to sleep, passing onto them the legacy of comfort, laughter, and love.

Bonnie enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, and after retirement really got to start enjoying them more. She liked going out with friends and playing Bingo, or just a simple quiet night of TV bingo. The comfort of her home was important to her She loved the solitude of being in her home, in her pajamas, watching Coronation Street or the Oasis and National Geographic Channels.

No one may know this about Bonnie but she has traveled the world extensively, from the Great Pyramid of Giza to the Roman Coliseum, all from the comfort of her strategically placed pillow covered couch. This is exactly how she left us – sitting on her couch, volume turned up, watching her TV and waiting for where her next adventure would take her. The exact way she wanted it to be… no wires, no tubes, no doctors, no extensive grieving. Just a quiet trip to her next destination. Safe travels Bonzo.

Mom, you will forever be in our hearts, our memories, and our legacy. We love you and miss you.

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Bonnie Joan Thompson

June 19, 1934 - December 4, 2013

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bonnie Joan Thompson, late of North Battleford, on December 7, 2013 at the age of 79 years.

Bonnie is survived by her daughters: Annie Faye of Bali, Indonesia; Dianne Robb of Winnipeg, MB; Susan (Glen) Greico of Winnipeg, MB; Cindy (Les) Latus of North Battleford, SK; son Johnny (Jamie) Thompson of North Battleford, SK; sister Gail (Ken) Holt of Clyde, AB; brother Delwood (Julia) Sager of Spruce Grove, AB; grandchildren: Leena, Daya, Eric, Curtis, Christa, Tyson, and Owen; great-grandchildren: Aysha, Merrin, Lily, Kai, Kayla, Braydon, and Liam.

She is predeceased by her mother Olga Sager; her father William Komar; sister and brother-in-law June and Bill Hargreaves; brother Raymond Komar; nephew Raymond Komar Jr.; sister and brother-in-law Jeanette and Max Materi.

Service of Remembrance will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 from the Chapel of Sallows and McDonald - Wilson and Zehner Funeral Home with Mrs. Joyce Salie officiating. If friends so desire, donations in Bonnie's memory may be made to the Battlefords Trade and Education Centre or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan.

The family has placed their trust with Christie Doyle of Sallows and McDonald - Wilson and Zehner Funeral Home, North Battleford. (306) 445-2418