Bonnie Mae Lee

Bonnie Lee, of Dawson, died on Thursday, July 18, 2019 at the Johnson Memorial Home in Dawson at the age of 93. 

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at 10:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Dawson with  Rev. Herbert Rotunda  officiating.  Interment will be in Dawson Cemetery in Dawson, MN

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 22, 2019 from 5-7:00 PM at Johnson Memorial Care Center Chapel in Dawson with a prayer service to begin at 6:45PM.  Visitation will continue at the church for one hour before the service.

Bonnie Mae Lee was born in Riverside Township, Lac qui Parle county on March 5, 1926 to Aubrey and Christena (Nelson) Silvey.   She attended District 14 through the 8th grade and graduated from Dawson High school in 1944.  Following high school Bonnie worked at a dress shop and grocery store in Dawson.  Bonnie was united in marriage to Arbie Lee at the First Presbyterian Church on March 6, 1948.   Bonnie continued to nanny a little girl for the people they lived with until they got their own home.     Arbie and Bonnie lived on farms near Dawson and Madison. In addition to raising a family and helping on the farm with field work, raising chickens and harvesting,  Bonnie worked as a CNA at Madison Lutheran Home in the 1970's.

Bonnie was a member of First Presbyterian since 1937. She was very active in the church by teaching Sunday School for many years, serving in many officer positions in the Women’s group and singing in the church choir. Bonnie and the family were very active in 4-H and she served as a leader for many years.  Bonnie and Arbie enjoyed traveling together and went to Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, Branson, and Costa Rica where they were able to visit  their AFS student.    She also enjoyed sewing, quilting and gardening and every autumn would make 50 to 60 apple pies and froze them or gave them away.    Her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bonnie is survived by her children: Caren (Duane) Johnson, Marilyn (Mark) Bourne, Vallerie (Wesley) Sather, Calvin (Cindy) Lee, Daniel (Karolee) Lee, Becky (Tom) Reep, AFS son Juan Vargas, Costa Rica: 19 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Marge Lee, Heloise Ronning, Sylvia Lee, Alice Lanoue, Dora Lee; brother-in-law: Floyd Lee; and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Arbie; brothers-in-law: Thornie Lee, Elton Lee, Stan Kostad, Glen Ronning, Don Bauler; sisters-in-law: Leone Kostad, Florence Bauler; and nephew: Brad Kostad.

May her memory be blessed.