Bonnie Mae (Perdue) Arris was born June 5, 1918, in Witten, South Dakota to parents John and Katherine Perdue. She was the second of twelve children. Bonnie passed away at the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Loveland, Colorado on November 26, 2016 at the age of 98 years.
Bonnie married Pete Arris on October 17, 1937, in Gallup, New Mexico. After a short time in New Mexico, Bonnie and Pete traveled to South Dakota to visit Bonnie’s family. Pete helped with various projects before they traveled back to New Mexico. A year later after Pete was offered a job with Terrell’s Appliance in Winner, Bonnie and Pete moved to Winner where they bought a home and raised two sons, Robert and Monty. When Monty was in his early twenties, the Arris family lost him, a dear son and brother, to cancer. Bonnie and Pete remained steadfast in their faith and united in marriage for 71 years until Pete’s passing on June 20, 2009. Upon having sold their home and moved across town to Golden Prairie Manor in February 2009, Bonnie remained at Golden Prairie Manor until April 2012. Her son Bob then moved her to the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Loveland, Colorado to be closer to him.
Bonnie worked at Terrell’s Appliance (which eventually became Winner Gas and Electric). She also worked as an aide at the Winner hospital.
She was strong-willed, matter-of-fact, outgoing, friendly, very caring, loving, and in turn, was deeply loved by many. Her choice of jewelry and bright clothing helped express her personality.
Bonnie had a very strong faith and eagerly shared her faith in Christ with others. Bonnie (along with Pete) was a charter member of the Assembly of God Church in Winner. Bonnie loved her church brothers and sisters and spent many hours in the church where she was a Sunday School teacher for the young teens and active in women’s ministry groups. Bonnie, with loving open arms, welcomed adults and young people alike into the church and into her home. She was involved in the local Christian Women’s Club and traveled with friends to nearby communities to attend Women’s Aglow meetings. She enjoyed reading and sharing her favorite inspirational books with others. Bonnie enjoyed leading Bible study/prayer groups and was known as a spiritual mother/grandmother to many.
Bonnie loved her family deeply and was thrilled when any of them would travel the distance to visit or if she and Pete could travel to their homes. Bonnie was especially thankful to have lived near her son Bob the last 4 ½ years of her life.
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