Minnie Yvonne "Bonnie" Wilson

Minnie Y “Bonnie” Wilson

Bonnie was born February 20, 1928 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Samuel Van Arsdell and Bertha Howell Van Arsdell. She attended school in Stillwater, Glencoe, and Pawnee, Oklahoma; graduating from Pawnee High School in 1946.
She passed away in her home on Sunday morning, December 9, 2018. She was 90 years of age.
Bonnie's mother and father homesteaded land in the landrun, but later sold it back to the government to build Lake Carl Blackwell. They bought property near Glencoe, then settled south of Pawnee where she grew up on the farm.
Bonnie married her high school sweetheart, Bert Wilson, when he returned home from the Army during WWII, on September 7, 1946. They lived in Pawnee, then moved for a short time to Wichita, Kansas, then back to Pawnee where they made their home for the rest of their lives.
Bert worked in the Pawnee National Bank while Bonnie mostly stayed home to raise a family. She worked for a few years as a deputy sheriff in Pawnee County and in the Court Clerk's Office. She was reported to be the first female deputy of Pawnee County.
Bert and Bonnie spent their retirement years traveling in their airstream across the United States and Canada. They both served in several administrative capacities with their airstream group.
Bonnie was an active member of the Pawnee First Baptist Church.

Bonnie was proceeded in death by her parents, two sisters: Merle Lee of Pawnee, Oklahoma and Virginia Beck of Newkirk, Oklahoma; and a brother: Henry Van Arsdell of Durant; and her husband Bert Wilson, Pawnee, Oklahoma.
She is also survived by her daughter Martha Ray and husband Chan, of Pawnee; and her son Mike Wilson and wife Chris of Pawnee; six grandchildren: Kena Fritsche and husband Billy of Pawnee; Bill Ray and wife Cheri of Bastrop, Texas; Shane Wilson of Pawnee; Dan Ray and wife Julie of Stillwater; Bryan Thomas and wife Liz of Colorado; and Nick Thomas and wife Amanda of Mannford.
She is also survived by great grandchildren, who were the joy of her life: Bailey and Cassidy Ray, Gunner Fritsche, Cash Wilson, Danae, Aiden and Eli Ray, Zoe, Presley and Payton Thomas and Kinzey, Sidney, Mason and Bradley Thomas.
Bonnie will be missed by many other friends and relatives.