Bonnie Dee Merrell (‘Grandma Bonnie' to five generations) passed away on August 10, 2011, at the Renaissance Center in Dillon, Montana at the age of 102.
Bonnie was born on January 29, 1909 to Willey and Lelia Cheney in Lima, Montana where she was to spend the entire 102 years of her life. She attended and graduated from the Lima Schools. On May 15, 1923 she was married to Max C. Merrell. Their union of 67 years resulted in eight children, 25 grandchildren, 55 great grandchildren and numerous great-great grandchildren.
Her family was the center of her life, but she also enriched the life of many others with gifts of baby blankets, aid to stranded motorists, meals for shut-ins and working in many community organizations and the Lima Community church. Her community service included years on the cemetery board and a time as Lima's mayor.
Bonnie worked at various jobs throughout her life, starting at the Union Pacific club house as a young woman and later at the Club Café' and the Peat Café'. She worked for many many years with her husband Max at the family owned Merrell Store. After ‘retiring' from the store she worked at the Lima school lunch program and finished her working career at the local motel laundry at the age of 80. She left behind an admirable work ethic for later generations to follow.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband Max, sons Kenneth and Don, daughter-in-law Lois, one grandson and two great grandchildren.
She is survived by Dee (Norma) Merrell, Carol (Gordon) Harball, Edith Reed, Anita (Baxter) Brown, Joyce Merrell, Lila (Jim) Harper plus numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed!
Services will be held at 2 p.m. at the Lima Community Church in Lima, Tuesday, August 16th with a visitation from 11 to 2 p.m. prior to services. Graveside services and reception will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lima Community Church Ladies Aid or a charity of the donor's choice.
Bonnie was born on January 29, 1909 to Willey and Lelia Cheney in Lima, Montana where she was to spend the entire 102 years of her life. She attended and graduated from the Lima Schools. On May 15, 1923 she was married to Max C. Merrell. Their union of 67 years resulted in eight children, 25 grandchildren, 55 great grandchildren and numerous great-great grandchildren.
Her family was the center of her life, but she also enriched the life of many others with gifts of baby blankets, aid to stranded motorists, meals for shut-ins and working in many community organizations and the Lima Community church. Her community service included years on the cemetery board and a time as Lima's mayor.
Bonnie worked at various jobs throughout her life, starting at the Union Pacific club house as a young woman and later at the Club Café' and the Peat Café'. She worked for many many years with her husband Max at the family owned Merrell Store. After ‘retiring' from the store she worked at the Lima school lunch program and finished her working career at the local motel laundry at the age of 80. She left behind an admirable work ethic for later generations to follow.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband Max, sons Kenneth and Don, daughter-in-law Lois, one grandson and two great grandchildren.
She is survived by Dee (Norma) Merrell, Carol (Gordon) Harball, Edith Reed, Anita (Baxter) Brown, Joyce Merrell, Lila (Jim) Harper plus numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed!
Services will be held at 2 p.m. at the Lima Community Church in Lima, Tuesday, August 16th with a visitation from 11 to 2 p.m. prior to services. Graveside services and reception will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lima Community Church Ladies Aid or a charity of the donor's choice.
Bonnie Dee Merrell (‘Grandma Bonnie' to five generations) passed away on August 10, 2011, at the Renaissance Center in Dillon, Montana at the age of 102.
Bonnie was born on January 29, 1909 to Willey and Lelia Cheney in Lima, Montana where she was to spend the entire 102 years of her life. She attended and graduated from the Lima Schools. On May 15, 1923 she was married to Max C. Merrell. Their union of 67 years resulted in eight children, 25 grandchildren, 55 great grandchildren and numerous great-great grandchildren.
Her family was the center of her life, but she also enriched the life of many others with gifts of baby blankets, aid to stranded motorists, meals for shut-ins and working in many community organizations and the Lima Community church. Her community service included years on the cemetery board and a time as Lima's mayor.
Bonnie worked at various jobs throughout her life, starting at the Union Pacific club house as a young woman and later at the Club Café' and the Peat Café'. She worked for many many years with her husband Max at the family owned Merrell Store. After ‘retiring' from the store she worked at the Lima school lunch program and finished her working career at the local motel laundry at the age of 80. She left behind an admirable work ethic for later generations to follow.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband Max, sons Kenneth and Don, daughter-in-law Lois, one grandson and two great grandchildren.
She is survived by Dee (Norma) Merrell, Carol (Gordon) Harball, Edith Reed, Anita (Baxter) Brown, Joyce Merrell, Lila (Jim) Harper plus numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed!
Services will be held at 2 p.m. at the Lima Community Church in Lima, Tuesday, August 16th with a visitation from 11 to 2 p.m. prior to services. Graveside services and reception will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lima Community Church Ladies Aid or a charity of the donor's choice.
Bonnie was born on January 29, 1909 to Willey and Lelia Cheney in Lima, Montana where she was to spend the entire 102 years of her life. She attended and graduated from the Lima Schools. On May 15, 1923 she was married to Max C. Merrell. Their union of 67 years resulted in eight children, 25 grandchildren, 55 great grandchildren and numerous great-great grandchildren.
Her family was the center of her life, but she also enriched the life of many others with gifts of baby blankets, aid to stranded motorists, meals for shut-ins and working in many community organizations and the Lima Community church. Her community service included years on the cemetery board and a time as Lima's mayor.
Bonnie worked at various jobs throughout her life, starting at the Union Pacific club house as a young woman and later at the Club Café' and the Peat Café'. She worked for many many years with her husband Max at the family owned Merrell Store. After ‘retiring' from the store she worked at the Lima school lunch program and finished her working career at the local motel laundry at the age of 80. She left behind an admirable work ethic for later generations to follow.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband Max, sons Kenneth and Don, daughter-in-law Lois, one grandson and two great grandchildren.
She is survived by Dee (Norma) Merrell, Carol (Gordon) Harball, Edith Reed, Anita (Baxter) Brown, Joyce Merrell, Lila (Jim) Harper plus numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed!
Services will be held at 2 p.m. at the Lima Community Church in Lima, Tuesday, August 16th with a visitation from 11 to 2 p.m. prior to services. Graveside services and reception will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lima Community Church Ladies Aid or a charity of the donor's choice.
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