Mary Bonkrude

Mary Bonkrude, age 82, of Litchfield died on Saturday, August 8, 2009 at the Emmanuel Home in Litchfield. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield with Pastors Harvey Nelson and Christian Muellerleile officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Tuesday at the church. Internment will be in the Lake Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield. Mary Ardis Elisabeth Bonkrude, the daughter of Andrew and Anna (Hansen) Pedersen, was born September 12, 1926, in East Chain Township, Martin County, Minnesota. Her childhood years were spent near Swea City, Iowa. As a teenager, she moved with her family to Fairmont, MN and graduated from Fairmont High School in 1944. She attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis. Her faith in Jesus meant a lot to her. She worked as a dental assistant for several years in Minneapolis. In 1950, she was united in marriage to Wayne Bonkrude. They lived in Minneapolis, Mankato and Huntley before moving to Litchfield in 1954. They raised three children in Litchfield. Mary worked as a Title I instructor at Lake Ripley Elementary School for 15 years. She was active at Zion Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School and Bible School, and in Ladies Circles. She also did visitation to shut-ins. Mary was a member of the Gideon Auxiliary and Women’s Study Club. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved growing and arranging flowers, cooking, sewing, traveling, reading and walking. She is survived by her husband, Wayne of Litchfield, three children; Steven (and Sally) Bonkrude, Marilyn (and Quentin) Schultz, Thomas Bonkrude, 10 grandchildren; Jamie (and Paul) Novak, Daniel Bonkrude, Nathaniel Bonkrude, Shayna Bonkrude, Lucas Bonkrude, Anna (and Chris) Schnorr, Peter (and Nicole) Bonkrude, Monica (and Michael) Reiter, Heidi (and Ryan) Englebert and Eric Schultz, 4 great grandchildren; Shelby, Jeffrey, and Hannah Schnorr and Broden Reiter. She is also survived by 2 sisters; Margaret (and Herschel) Haught, Elna (and Don) Rysdahl and a brother Rev. Ruben (and Helen) Pedersen and many relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters; Olga, Helen, brothers; Nels, Harold, Soren and Gorden.