Bonnie Jean Kerstetter Mendenhall was born in Ashland, KS on November 19, 1946 to Roy and Blanche Kerstetter. The youngest of five children, Bonnie lived and worked on the Kerstetter family farm in Protection.  Her brother, Rex, named her after the song "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean," a popular song at the time. As a big brother, Rex would tease and entertain her. She worked the farm alongside her oldest brother, Don, driving the wheat truck while Don drove the combine. Her beloved and oldest sister, Judy, read the Bible to her and demonstrated Jesus'love for her. Judy cared for her and protected her. Her sister, Betty, was her best friend. As children, she and Betty held many kitty-cat weddings in the loft in the barn.  Her childhood on the farm gave Bonnie a lifelong love of animals, country life, and, most of all, her family.

Bonnie met Doyle Mendenhall on a blind date during their junior year of college at Northwestern State University in Alva, OK. Doyle saw Bonnie coming down the steps from her dorm and thought, "Oh, I hope that's her! She's so beautiful." Bonnie would tell her roommate that night, "That's the man I'm going to marry!" They were married on August 19, 1967.

Bonnie and Doyle raised two children, Jason and Amy. They made many memories as a family.

Bonnie taught middle school English to countless students throughout Oklahoma and Kansas.  Later, she would underwrite insurance for Allstate.

Bonnie passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, June 13th 2023 while holding Doyle's hand. Bonnie was the most loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, and she will be dearly missed. She showed her family and loved ones endless compassion and empathy. She gave selflessly and exemplified true, unending love.

Bonnie is survived by her husband, Doyle, her children, Jason Mendenhall (Dawn) and Amy Perez (Randy), her grandchildren, Lauren LaRocque (Arleo), Evelyn Perez, Doyle Mendenhall, Emily Mendenhall, Emma Mendenhall, Halee Clinkenbeard (Conner), her great-grandchildren, Lenora LaRocque, Poppy Clinkenbeard, and Palmer Clinkenbeard, her sister, Betty Norton, and her sister-in-law: Judy Kerstetter.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, July 1, 2023 at Crown Hill Cemetery in
Coldwater, KS. A luncheon will follow at the Protection Methodist Church in Protection, KS. All are welcome.

Memorial donations in honor of Bonnie Mendenhall may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

https://diy.lls.org/fundraiser/4773476?is_new=true

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Memorials & Tributes

{{MetaTags.description}}

diy.lls.org