Bonnie L. Spencer

Bonnie was born March 8, 1951 to Francis A. and Evelyn M. (Dittentholer) Spencer in Toppenish, WA. Bonnie was a descendant of the Yakama Nation and Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. She was raised and educated in White Swan graduating from White Swan High School in 1969. After graduation she went on to beauty school and obtained her cosmetology license.

In April 1978 Bonnie began her 33+ year career with Yakama Nation Fire Management. She started out as a lookout and was stationed at Signal Peak Ranger Station and Sopelia Peak. A couple of years later she was promoted to dispatcher eventually becoming Lead Dispatcher. She traveled throughout the Northwest to serve on different fire assignments on various reservations, Coordination Centers, and the Portland Area Office. Bonnie also always made it a point to take care of her fire crews be it camp, hand, or engine that were being shipped out for a fire. Throughout her career Bonnie made many friends and some of them lifelong. Bonnie touched many lives and her smile, laughter, jokes, teasing, weather reports, stories, growls, KOC525’s will be dearly missed.

Bonnie is survived by her life companion and favorite sparring partner Don Growt of the home in White Swan, WA; sisters, Adrienne (Don) Jensen and Frances Spencer; brother, Willie Dittentholer; sisters-in-law, Terri Spencer, Andrea Spencer, and Diane (Don) Longee; step-children, Michele (Joey), Tara (Steve), Donella (Patrick), DeWayne (Marie), and Lahneen Fryberg of Tulalip.

Bonnie is also survived by nephews and nieces who she considered her children and she their “favorite Aunt!”: Todd (Monica), Ty, Trina, Shay-Anne, Kyle, Ryan, Quanah (Gwen), Jessica, Royce, Chet, Teresa, Amie, Erica, Kaleb, Tristan, Marisa, Myah, Christian, Sarah, Anthony, Jonas, Jayd’N, Hunter, Summer, Chance, Cecelia, Devyn Sehleya, Dreux, Denley, Kingston, and Marley. Grandchildren: Michael, Kayle, Jacob, Chad, John, Josie, Taylor, Alysha, and Skyler and Special Grandchildren: Tinser Jr., Necoe, and Charmaine Mitchell.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her father and mother, Francis A. and Evelyn M. (Dittentholer) Spencer; brothers, Gerald A. (Jerry) Spencer, Howard A. (Tony) Spencer and niece and girlfriend Faith Pederson.

Recitation of the Rosary will be at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the White Swan High School Gym. She will remain there overnight. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:00 a.m., Friday, November 11th at White Swan High School Gym. Burial will follow at Reservation Community Memorial Park on West Wapato Rd. Dinner will immediately follow the burial at the White Swan Community Center.

We love and miss you dearly Bonnie, Aunt Bonnie, AB, Bonnie Bear!! KOC 525 is out of service………..

Arrangements under the direction of Merritt Funeral Home, Wapato, WA.