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   After a decade-long battle with end stage COPD (including 3 lengthy home hospice stints), Bonnie passed away peacefully in the arms of the love of her life (for 49 years) Dan Buche. Bonnie was born and raised on St. Paul’s East Side, attended Central H.S., and the U of M.

   Bonnie worked as a buyer at Stillwater Prison, and later as a Records Mgmt. Manager for the state of MN. For most of her adult life Bonnie battled serious medical issues, forcing her into early retirement in about 2004.

   Bonnie acquired skills in electricity, carpentry, and plumbing out of necessity; as a very young (20’s) woman, she astounded local tradesmen by personally renovating her entire house.

   As a child, Bonnie enjoyed spending summers at the family cabin on Mule Lake. Years later she purchased her own heavily wooded lake lot (is there really a lake down there?), which she cleared, and while building the cabin on Wood Lake, stayed in a converted school bus, earning the nickname “the bus lady.” Bonnie cherished her family, and nothing brought her greater joy than spending time with the family, especially during the holidays, and at the lake. Bonnie loved the MN lake country, taking the mic at public hearings to loudly protest the environmental hazards of Pipeline 3.

   Bonnie and Dan’s retirement dream became a reality when they purchased a home on Smokey Hollow Lake, while wintering at their condo in Puerto Aventuras, MX - kicking back on the white sand beaches, while luxuriating in the cool pristine waters of the turquoise Caribbean.

   Bonnie was intelligent, resourceful, loving, strong-willed, and a bodaciously beautiful redhead, and a handful to the end…and then she was at peace.

   Bonnie has embarked on her final journey to reunite with loved ones who passed before her: parents Herbert and Ruth Buckley, brother Dick, son Adam, and special Godmother Maretta Ashford.

   Bonnie is survived by Dan Buche, children Tim (Joyce), Kim Mapson (Floyd), Mystelle (David), Sharriah Armstrong (Jim), 13 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.

   Bonnie has bequeathed her body to the University of Minnesota for scientific research. A Celebration of Life is planned for this summer. Special thanks to Outing First Responders, and St. Croix Hospice staff - Kendra and Chelsie.

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