Bonnie Joyce Yurko

After 91 beautiful, joy filled years of life, on March 12, our beloved mother, Bonnie J. Yurko gained her angel wings surrounded by loved ones.

Bonnie was full of love, found joy in all things, and was a beautiful person inside and out. Bonnie was born August 26, 1931, on the family ranch to Henry Burton and Lida Thayer in Belt, MT. She graduated from Great Falls High in 1950, where she met the love of her life, John Yurko. In 1952, John and Bonnie were married and went on to have five loving daughters, Kari, Jonnie, Julie, Mary Beth and Patti. After the girls started school Bonnie entered the workforce. She went to work at Malmstrom AFB before ultimately retiring from Coca-Cola.

Many of her children, grandchildren, and friends benefited from her abilities as a seamstress, to include, two wedding dresses. Bonnie was devoted to her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren (who knew her as Grandma BonBon). She was a constant cheerleader and number one fan of all their endeavors. She loved bird watching and enjoyed the wonders of nature.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Burton and Lida Thayer; husband, John Yurko; sisters, Marjorie Thompson and Lorraine McCann; and brother, Gerald Thayer.

She is survived by her five daughters, Kari Lindeman (Charlie), Julie LaPlaunt (Jerry), Mary Beth Larson (Rod), and Patti Wakeford all of Belt, and Jonnie Voytoski (Ed) of Kalispell; sister, Helen Lee from Panama City, Florida; 15 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023, at O’Connor Memorial Chapel with burial to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Peace Hospice Home Care, St. Jude’s, or donor’s choice.