Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 11, 2021, at St. Dionysius Catholic Church in Tyler. Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. Friday, March 12, 2021 until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.. Per MN Executive order, masks will be required and social distancing and occupancy guidelines will be observed. If capacity limits are reached, there will be a livestream of the funeral service broadcasted at the Hartquist Funeral Home in Tyler. Burial will follow at the St. Dionysius Catholic Cemetery. To view Bonnie’s obituary or link for her live-streamed funeral service, please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.

She hath looked well on the paths of her house. Proverbs 31:27

Bonnie was mother to 13 and second mother to the endless flow of neighbor kids and relatives in and out of her home, a place where everyone was welcome. Throughout her life, beginning at a very young age, she took care of everyone around her and up to the minute she left us she was still teaching us the ways of life. She loved her family, she loved her friends, and most of all she loved God.

Bonnie Thooft was born August 5, 1928, to Charles and Alice DeRider in Russell, MN. She attended and graduated from the Russell School. Bonnie was confirmed in the Catholic Faith in July, 1948. Bonnie was united in marriage to Fritz Thooft on August 27, 1947, at St. Dionysius Catholic Church in Tyler. Fritz and Bonnie farmed all their married life side by side as partners and best friends. As a member of the St. Dionysius Catholic Church, she was active in many of the church groups and functions of the church, teaching catechism, distributing communion, lector, parish council member, and helping in the kitchen. Bonnie loved camping with her family, playing cards, dancing, reading, and being anywhere her family was. She was a familiar face in the community as the Avon Lady. Bonnie Joyce, a tiny woman with an enormous heart, danced her way to Heaven on March 5, 2021, at the age of 92 years, six months, and 28 days.

She is survived by her five sons, Michael (Julie), Kim (Barb), Donnie (Betty), Tony, and Jack (Jennifer); seven daughters, Michele (Fran) Lamote, Becky (Frank) Engels, Cynthia (Steve) Henderson, Debra (Kevin) Mitchell, Joann (Terry) Petersen, Jane (Dana) Larsen, and Lisa (Sam) Bode; 38 grandchildren; 76 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fritz; daughter, Jacqueline; grandson, Brett Thooft; great-grandson, Cordell Sanderson; brothers, Merlin, Charles, Jr., Don, and Jim; and sisters, Betty Moat, Charlotte Smith, Carol Lang, Shirley Buechner and Joan VanLerberghe.

We are sad to say goodbye to this wonderful, generous lady and we are eternally grateful for her influence on our lives. May she rest in peace.

Her children rise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:28

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