Martha Grace Bonds

Martha Grace Bonds, age 83, of Scottsbluff, departed into the presence of her Savior, Jesus Christ, Monday, April 18, 2016. Dugan-Kramer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A private family viewing will be held at the funeral home. A private family internment will be held at Westlawn Cemetery in Gering. A sharing time in memory of Martha will be held Friday, April 22, at 7:00pm at Calvary Memorial Church. A welcome is extended to all who wish to be present for this time of memory and sharing.

A Memorial Service will be held Sunday afternoon, April 24, 2016, at 2:00 P.M., at Calvary Memorial Church in Gering. Pastors, Gary Hashley and Bradley Kihlthau will officiate. Memorial gifts may be given to Calvary Memorial Church, to be designated for missionaries, Harald and Helga Schwaiger. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com.

Martha was born August 18, 1932, to Robert William Thompson and Edith Carolyn (Riebe) Thompson, at Lemon, South Dakota. She attended school most of her years at Holt, Missouri, and later graduated from Banner County High School. Martha’s family moved to Banner County in the late 1940’s. While in Missouri, Martha also lived and worked in Kansas City. One of her favorite sayings is, “When I arrived in Kimball at night, my dad picked me up at the Wheat Growers Hotel. Upon arising the next morning at my new home I looked out of the window and I thought to myself, “in Missouri, one could hardly see the forest for the trees, but here I couldn’t see the trees.”

Martha received Christ through a Gideon presentation of the gospel. Shortly after High School she attended Dallas Bible College. It was there that she was led by God to the love of her life, Charles L. Bonds of Mansfield, Louisiana. They were united in Marriage on July 6, 1952, at Harrisburg, Nebraska. Together they shared a joyful, loving, and meaningful life as they loved and served the Lord throughout their years together.

Following their marriage, Martha and Charles returned to Dallas in order for Charles to complete his college work and graduate from Dallas Bible College. Martha worked and attended evening classes at the college. She worked for an insurance investigation company and later for an educational films distribution company. While in Dallas she and Charles were members of Scofield Memorial Church under the leadership of their dear friend and mentor, Dr. Harlan J. Roper.

Martha was a loving and caring helpmeet with Charles as he served pastorates in Hitchland Community Church in Hitchland, Texas, Harrisburg Community Church in Banner County, Dix Bible Church in Dix, Nebraska, Kimball Evangelical Free Church in Kimball, Nebraska, and Calvary Memorial Church in Gering, Nebraska. She was a charter member of Calvary Memorial Church. Martha had a great love for all of the people in the churches she was a part of, and faithfully served in many places in each of the churches. She loved her Savior with all her heart and had a special love for each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She worked on the Scottsbluff Election Board for many years. Martha was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She loved to sing and had a special joy in her heart for her participation in the church choir. She had her own dog-grooming business for many years in Gering.

Martha is survived by her husband, Charles; brother and sister-in-law, Marvin and Barbara Thompson of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; sister-in-law, Eliza Thompson of Santa Cruz, New Mexico; sister-in-law, Janie Griffith of Shreveport, Louisiana; sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Terry Bonds of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Philip and Colleen Bonds of Casa Grande, Arizona; daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn and Geary Goldsmith of Fort Worth, Texas; Cheryl and Richard Costner of Lakewood, Colorado, and Charlene and Gary Miller of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Heather and Jon Hauschild of Scottbluff, NE; Bert and Sarah Ballard of Malibu, CA; Dustin and Emily Costner of Arvada, Colorado, Ashley Costner, and Ty Costner of Lakewood, CO; Marissa and Justin Hernandez of Arlington, TX, and Mikaylah and Clayton Goodwin of Fort Worth, TX; great grandchildren, Carson and Cadence Hauschild, Adria, Kyla and Jaden Ballard, Logan and Asher Hernandez, AryAnnah Goodwin, Adeline Costner and a number of cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Martha is preceded in death by her, father, Robert Thompson; mother, Edith Thompson; brothers, William (Bill) and Robert (Bob) Thompson; father-in-law, Albert Bonds, Sr.; mother-in-law, Mattye Bonds; brothers-in-law, Albert Bonds, Jr., Robert Bonds, David Bonds and Gena Griffith; sister-in-law Emily McCulley and great grandson, Aidan Costner.