Bonita Joanne Olson

Bonita “Bonnie” Joanne Olson, 73, passed away on Friday, September 6, 2024, at the Villa St. Vincent, in Crookston, MN.

Bonnie was born in Crookston, Minnesota on February 18, 1951, at St. Francis Hospital to her doting parents Gerard and Gladys (Boucher) Menard. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Anne’s Catholic Church. Growing up she attended Mount St. Benedict and graduated with the class of 1969.

When Bonnie was just fourteen, she started her first job at Villa St. Vincent on Central Avenue in the dietary department, Bonnie began her working life with a strong work ethic that she carried all the way through to retirement.

In the same year she graduated high school, she began working as a waitress at Your Host—which later became RBJ’s—where she met the love of her life, Spencer Olson. After two years of dating, and after Bonnie fell madly in love, the pair were married at St. Anne’s Church on April 17, 1971. From their union, they had three children: Tina, Jeremy, and Joseph. The two moved to rural Crookston where Spencer farmed, and where Bonnie focused her attention on raising her children and tending to the family’s home. As a show of gratitude for Bonnie’s commitment to her family, Spencer bought her a vacuum cleaner and told her she “earned it” for all her years alongside. When Joseph started kindergarten, Bonnie went back to work for the Diocese of Crookston as an administrative clerk. During her time there she received a 10-year plaque for her dedication and commitment to her role. She was very proud of the fifteen years she spent with the Diocese until her retirement in December of 2002. Not only was she dedicated to work, but Bonnie was also a devout woman of Faith who prayed the Rosary daily; bonded by their immense love for God, she was joined in prayer by her friend Suzi, the two prayed together for 20 plus years.

Bonnie had a love for many things in life like scrabble, playing card games, billiards, bowling, spear- ice fishing, the color purple (her favorite), HGTV, great food like steak and lobster she treated herself too anytime she could at her favorite restaurant, Red Lobster, and she absolutely loved shopping on Temu—but more than anything else in her life, Bonnie loved being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. As a family, they would take trips to Bemidji and Fargo, spend the night to go shopping, visiting, and for church. Among the highlights of family time was a trip to Disneyland in California in 1978 both Tina and Jeremy will never forget. As well as many holidays at the farm, Bonnie loved having the house filled with her children at Christmas. Another talent of Bonnie’s that won’t be forgotten was her incredible lasagna, a dish Jeremy described as, “The Best.” In 2022, Bonnie was diagnosed with cancer, in this time Bonnie was ignited by the same attitude she had carried through most of her life, which was one of resilience and strength, characteristics she passed on her to children, a part of her they will continue to carry with them in the coming days and months. During her battle, she took several trips to Rochester for treatment with her children, they supported her every step of the way and truly kept her grounded. The family found the good in the hardest of situations by taking no moments for granted and using this trip to bond.

Bonnie was a woman who left a mark on her children’s lives, and all those who had the privilege to know her. May God Bless the memory of Bonita (Menard) Olson; The Best Mother in the World!

Left to mourn her passing are her children, Tina Olson, of Crookston, Jeremy (Jennifer) Olson, of Crookston, and Joseph (Sara Johnson) Olson, of Crookston; Grandchildren: Chelsea, Draven, Hoyt, Alexis, Ayden, Austyn, Ashtyn, and Dawson; Great-Grandchildren: Jasta, Rayelle, Mystique, and Kazelyn; Siblings, Janelle Menard, and Gary (Sue) Menard; brothers-in-law, David Brule, and Dwain Carlson; as well as many other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerard and Gladys Menard, Sisters, Kathy Brule and Gail Carlson, and former spouse, Spencer Olson; as well as many other relatives.