A Celebration of Life Service for Bonnie (Olson) Richard, age 92, of Joplin, MO, formerly of Heron Lake, MN, will be held Saturday, April 6th at 11:00 AM at Amo Lutheran Church in rural Storden, with Pastor Harvey Pedersen officiating. Burial will be in Amo Lutheran Cemetery in rural Storden, MN.

A time of visitation and gathering will be held on Saturday, April 6th for one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, at the Amo Lutheran Church in rural Storden.

Memorials are preferred, in lieu of flowers.

Bonnie Hinrichs Olson Richard was born on October 31st, 1931, to Beatrice and Harry Hinrichs in Wilmont, Minnesota. Bonnie was the oldest of eight children. Bonnie attended school in Fulda and graduated in 1949. Bonnie was active in the High School Band and enjoyed marching in parades.

On November 25, 1950, Bonnie married Marion Olson, and they resided on the family farm north of Heron Lake. The marriage was blessed with five sons, Creighton, Gordon, Bruce, Loren, and Brian. Together, Bonnie and Marion raised all 5 sons on the farm in Springfield Township. In the mid 1960's, a lake lot on Lake Shetek was purchased and a modest cabin was constructed. Bonnie loved to sit on the dock and fish whenever possible. In May of 1973, tragedy struck the family when Bruce passed away at the age of 15 years, following an automobile accident east of Mt. Lake. Marion passed away in 1984. Bonnie continued to live on the family farm, while she worked at the Lakeview Nursing Home in Heron Lake, starting as a cook, and eventually becoming the Activities Director, a job she thoroughly enjoyed for 15 years. In 1992, she purchased a home near the nursing home, as she didn't look forward to fighting the snow in the wintertime to get to work. During this time, Bonnie continued to be active in the Sweet Adelines, Amo Lutheran Church Woman's Group, and the Heron Lake American Legion Auxiliary. In 2008, Bonnie was awarded the Senior Citizen Volunteer of the Year award at the Jackson County Fair and was recognized at the Minnesota State Fair. When interviewed, Bonnie was asked what her favorite part of volunteering was, and she responded by saying that it was the satisfaction she would get from helping someone.

In 1996, Bonnie decided to retire and enjoyed spending her winters in a trailer park in Arizona. Bonnie met Harvey Richard in Arizona, and in September of 2010 they were married in the Amo Lutheran Church located just south of Storden, Minnesota. Bonnie then sold her house in Heron Lake and moved with Harvey to Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Harvey and Bonnie continued to winter in Arizona. They both enjoyed dancing and playing outdoor shuffleboard at their park. They spent six happy years together living in Harvey's home in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, fishing off the pontoon and enjoying socializing with members of their church in Scottsbluff. Harvey passed away in 2016 from bone cancer, and Bonnie moved back to Windom, Minnesota. Bonnie became a resident of Remick Ridge in June of 2019 and for additional care, she moved to Mikkelsen Manor in 2021. Showing signs of Dementia, Bonnie then moved to the Wildwood Memory Care Unit in Joplin, Missouri, near her son, Creighton, in February of 2022. On March 31, 2024, Bonnie passed away peacefully at the Wildwood Memory Care in Joplin.

Left to cherish the memory of Bonnie are her sons and daughters-in-law, Creighton (Sandy) of Joplin, MO, Gordon (Brigitte) of Jackson, MN, Loren (Joan) of Nampa, Idaho, and Brian (Linda) of Gordon, WI; 13 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; sisters, Barb Sandhurst of Fulda, Mary Lou Persing and Carol Hinrichs of the Twin Cities; brother, Jim (Karyl) Hinrichs of Fridley, MN; and sister-in-law, Barb Hinrichs. Bonnie is also survived by a stepdaughter, Lynn (Milan) Vamboldt of Torrington, WY and a stepson, Paul (Jana) Richard of Gering, NE.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Beatrice, husbands Marion and Harvey, son Bruce, sister Dorothy, and brothers Robert and Don.