Bonnie Lee Thoreson

Bonnie Lee “Bee” Hallberg Thoreson, 75, passed away on January 15, 2014, in Alhambra, CA (Los Angeles area) from natural causes while at home. Bonnie was born in Apple River Township, WI on July 19, 1938, to Clarence Hallberg and Helen Larson Hallberg. She was the fourth of eight children in the Hallberg family.

Bonnie attended East Balsam Elementary School and graduated from Balsam Lake High School in 1956. She lived in Minneapolis where she met and eventually married Ron Thoreson on November 19, 1964. They lived in several places during their married life including Minneapolis, MN; Albert Lea, MN; Fort Meyers, FL; and several places in the Los Angeles area. Most of Bonnie’s working career was with the Association of Retarded Citizens, work centers for the mentally challenged, where she was the procurement manager and bid on jobs that could be completed by the adult ARC clients at a work center. As needed, Bonnie was also a full-time caregiver for the clients when their parents wanted a respite vacation.

Bonnie returned to the Balsam Lake, WI area for several years. She worked for Doug & JoAnne cooking at Indianhead and also as a cashier at the local grocery store. She returned to the Los Angeles, CA area around 1996 and soon thereafter met a wonderful companion in Oscar Venegas. They enjoyed many vacations together in the Wisconsin area and made many trips each year to casinos throughout California and Nevada.

Bonnie will be especially remembered for her quick wit, easy laugh, and red-lipstick kisses left on cheeks.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ron in 1988, step-son Scott, and her brothers Gary (Fran), Jerry (Pam), and Doug.

She is survived by her sister Darlene (Dorance) Holmberg of Frederic; her brothers Tom (Bonnie), Stu and Gene all of Balsam Lake; Five step-children and 14 step-grandchildren in CA and MN; 17 nieces and nephews; her long-time companion Oscar Venegas; and many other relatives and friends.

Arrangements were made by Del Angel-Morrows Funeral Home in Pico Rivera, CA with a memorial service being held at the mortuary chapel on January 23, 4:00-5:00 p.m. for family members; and 5:00-9:00 p.m. for visitation. Interment will be at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA.

Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria del Angel - Morrow's, Pico Rivera, CA.