Bonita Sorenson

Bonita "Bonnie" Sorenson, known as "Mom," "Grandma," "Grammie," "Grams," "Ranch Grandma," and "Great Gramma" died in peace on January 14, 2005 surrounded by her family at the Campbell County Memorial Hospital Hospice.Bonnie was born September 19, 1921 in Alhambra, California, to John Franklin and Lora Davis Berry. Bonnie was the second of four children, and survived her three brothers Dave, Gene, and Johnny Berry. Bonnie spent the first fifteen years of her life in California. She moved to Rozet with her mother during the Great Depression in 1936. She was on the State Champion Girls Basketball Team while attending high school in Ranchester. Bonnie first met her husband, Robert C. Sorenson ("Bob"), at a teacher training course in Spotted Horse. At the time, Bonnie was a teacher at the school on the Dan Carson place, while Bob taught at the McQue-Tanner place. Bob often visited Bonnie, after an eleven mile horseback ride, at her school. Bonnie accepted Bob's marriage proposal after he traveled (this time) to Alhambra from Gillette, flowers in hand. They were married in Alhambra on June 28, 1942, shortly before Bob served with the Army Air Corp during WWII.Bonnie lived with the Sorenson family at their ranch at Wildcat, near Recluse, during the war. Bob joined her and their first son, Robert Leonard (born in 1943) at the Sorenson ranch in 1945. Their second son, Stephen Gale, was born in 1946. Bonnie and her family, after buying the Sorenson ranch, moved in during the Winter of 1949, where she remained until 1995. J. Charles, their third son, was born in 1956. Janette Ann, their daughter, was born in 1959. Bonnie's life at the Sorenson ranch was defined by her exceptional cooking, her legendary hospitality, and her endless and unconditional love and compassion for her family, neighbors and friends. Bonnie could feed a crew of threshers on a moment's notice, and never failed to pack a picnic lunch, complete with homemade pickles, breads, and jams, to keep the work on the ranch always moving forward. When Bonnie called everyone in for dinner, all work stopped immediately, for nothing was more important (and nothing may ever be) than gathering around the her table, hands scrubbed and faces washed, to eat, drink, and share the day's news at Bonnie's table. Bonnie was an honorary member of the Pleasant Hour Club. She spent many years as a member of the CC (Cheerful Chatter) Club at Wildcat and loved cooking and serving for the dances at the Clubhouse. She was a member of the Presbyterian Woman and enjoyed her bible study lunches when her health allowed her to attend. Bonnie held a special place in her heart for her children and their spouses: Robert (married to Nancy), Steve (married to Jalene), Charles (married to Shelly), and January Cundy (married to Brad). She also cherished each of her nine grandchildren: Jim, Gary, Mike, Chris, Neal, Chad, Dawn, Matt, and McKenna. Christmas mornings at the ranch always concluded with a mountain of wrapping paper, a sea of excited kids, and (of course) another incredible dinner. Bonnie also knew and loved each of her eleven great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Ryan, Devin, Danilee, Olaf, Sofie, Liv, Cole, Marta, Chance, and Tove. Bonnie spent the last years of her life in assisted living, Pioneer Manor and in and out of the hospital. She was a favorite patient among the care givers and she greatly appreciated all that they did for her.A memorial has been established for the Campbell County Hospice Hospitality House.