Bonnie Mae Gates

aunt, sister, foster parent, office manager, caregiver, crafter, and a

brave, kind, and beautiful soul. She was always asking if she could get

you something or if you needed anything. Generous to a fault; if she

had it, then it was yours if you needed it.

Born in Gordon, Nebraska on a farm to Harry and Clara (Gehrig) Sipp,

the youngest of ten children, Bonnie fondly remembered riding a

horse named Duke to school. As a young woman, she began dating

Robert (Bob) after he walked across the room and asked her to dance.

Married in 1950 to Robert Loren Gates of Pineridge, South Dakota,

they were together for the next 73 years. They had three children,

Gerald, Eileen, and Sandra.

Bonnie spent 22 years raising children, some hers and 17 foster kids

while Bob also pursued a career in aviation. In 1972 Bonnie and Bob

moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. Several years later they started an

aircraft maintenance shop and a flight school. Bonnie ran the front

office. They retired in 1994 and bought a home in Benson, Arizona.

Bonnie and Bob returned to Colorado in 2010, with the loving support

of their family. At every holiday and birthday when asked what she

would like, the answer was always the same, ”I just want everyone to

be happy”.

Bonnie is survived by her husband Bob; son, Gerald (Lil McBrien);

daughters: Eileen (Chuck Wilcox), and Sandy (Jay Beresford); 5

Grandchildren: Holly, Lucas (& Leigh), Laura (& Sean), Bret (& Jenna), and

Sascha (& Stephanie); 8 Great Grandchildren: Coley, Brendon, Huxley,

Cora, Elliot, Finnley, Ava, Riley; and many extended family and friends.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Clara;

brothers (Harold, Dayrold, Bud, Dwayne, Clifford, and Delbert); sisters

(Phyllis, Lorraine, and Kathleen).

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to be made to

support Alzheimer’s / Dementia research at the Alzheimer’s

Association at ALZ.org.

The family will be having a private graveside service.