Bonnie Mae Kueker

Bonnie Kueker, of Butterfield, entered her eternal home on Sunday, February 12th, 2023 at 77 years of age, while enrolled in Moments Hospice at Heartland Senior Living, Truman.

A Celebration of Bonnie’s Life will be on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 11 AM at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James with Rev. Jim Renz officiating.  Visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow in St. Matthew’s Cemetery, Butterfield, MN.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in St. James, Minnesota.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com

Bonnie Mae Rettke was born on June 20, 1945 to Raymond and Maxine (Hinrichs) Rettke at the Watonwan Memorial Hospital in St. James, Minnesota.  She was baptized on July 29, 1945 and confirmed on March 22, 1959 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James.  Bonnie attended country school District 19 through the 6th grade before enrolling at St. James Public School where she graduated in 1963.  After graduation, she worked at the Butterfield State Bank where she met her husband-to-be, Kenneth Kueker.  Ken and Bonnie were married on September 12, 1964 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.  They lived on a farm southwest of Butterfield where together, they milked cows.  In 1966 they were blessed with the birth of their first son, Brent and in 1967 they moved to their home east of Butterfield when they began crop farming.  In 1968, the birth of their second son Brad made their family complete.

Bonnie enjoyed her grandchildren, planting flowers, Extension Club, helping on the farm, baking, and being on Facebook.  She joined the workforce later in life when she was hired at Westin Automotive where she worked for 12 years and made many friends.  Bonnie was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Darfur. Ken and Bonnie were married for 53 ½ years before Ken’s passing in 2018.

Bonnie is survived by her sons, Brent (Mona) and Brad Kueker; grandchildren Shane (Katlyn), Wyatt (Mary), Laura, and Tyler (Alex); great-grandchildren, Brady Portillo (friend Dylan), Devon Campbell, and Denis Campbell; great-great granddaughter, Aliza Rose Portillo; siblings, Marilyn (Larry) Larson, Judy (Jim) Anderson, Roger (Beth) Rettke, Bruce (Dawn) Rettke and Sue (Jerry) Dalen; sister-in-law, Donna Kueker; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Raymond and Maxine Rettke; her husband, Kenneth Kueker; parents-in-law, Arnold and Luella Kueker; brother-in-law, Roger Kueker; as well as aunts, uncles, and other relatives.