Bonnie Belle Frey, 89 of Stapleton, NE, passed away January 19, 2015 at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, NE.
Bonnie was born June 6, 1925, in Westwood, CA to William Rankin and Nellie (Butler) Young. When she was a young girl, her parents moved to Callaway, NE where she attended grade school. She attended high school in Paxton, NE where her mother taught school then graduated from Stapleton High School.
In 1943 Bonnie moved to Washington DC working for the FBI as a finger print technician. She took great pride in working for J. Edgar Hoover. During this time she also attended modeling school.
On Dec. 1, 1945 she married Calvin Leroy Frey Sr. in Oberlin, KS. To this marriage 8 children were born. Bonnie was a full-time mother raising her children, helping on the farm and attending her children’s sporting events. She was a wonderful cook and seamstress, an avid reader of history, politics and mysteries, an expert at crewelwork, a great storyteller and fascinated with family history and genealogy. When guests arrived at Bonnie and Calvin’s home, they would be treated to a piece of Bonnie’s famous pies. Bonnie could take any fruit or filling, put it in her homemade crust and make the best pies.
In her later years, Bonnie and Calvin lived in Farragut, IA, Tabor, IA, and Arnold, NE. After Calvin’s death in 2007, Bonnie moved to Well Life Assisted Living in Kearney. In 2013, because of health problems, she moved to Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, NE to be closer to her family.
Survivors include her sons, Calvin (Judi) Frey Jr. of Gothenburg, Harry (Margaret Ann) Frey, Kent (Shirley) Frey, Mark (Traci) Frey, Darrin (Denise) Frey all of Stapleton; daughters, Laurie (Pete) Wiley of Omaha, Cynthia (Gary) Wilhoit of Santa Rosa, CA, and Mardelle (Scott) Patterson of Dallas, TX; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin Sr.; her parents; a brother, William Rankin III; and a nephew, Charles Young.
Memorials are suggested to the Rape and Domestic Abuse Crisis Center in North Platte or the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Bonnie chose cremation and memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 22, 2015 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with Marcia Mapes officiating. Private family inurnment will be at Rosehill Cemetery near Callaway. There will be a reception at the Stapleton Community Center at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Those wishing to sign the register may do so from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. today at Adams & Swanson funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.