Bonita Barbara Bartsch

Mankato Mortuary 1001 North Riverfront Drive Mankato, Minnesota 56001 507-388-2202 Bonita Barbara Bartsch Bonita Barbara (Ericksen) Bartsch, age 85 of rural Good Thunder, died Tuesday, March 31, 2015 surrounded by her family. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 4, 2015 at St. John Lutheran Church in Rapidan with Rev. Robert Lund officiating. Burial will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery rural Rapidan. Visitation will be held from 5 - 7 p.m., Friday at Mankato Mortuary and continue one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Memorials may be given to the donor's choice. Bonita was born a twin on April 10, 1929 to Henry and Esther (Robinson) Ericksen in Mankato. She was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church of Rapidan. She graduated from Rapidan High School in 1947. After graduation she attended Mankato Commercial College and then worked at Standard Oil Company. In 1949 she was united in marriage to Melvin Bartsch at Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapidan. After her marriage she joined St. John Lutheran Church where she was a member for 65 plus years. Bonita loved to cook and feed her family as well as any visitors that happened to stop by. Holidays were rich with tradition, keeping everyone filled with lefse. She took pride in a spotless home and a well-kept yard - she loved mowing lawn. She enjoyed helping Melvin with the farm work and especially enjoyed driving tractor. Bonita worked for several years at McDonalds in her retirement where she enjoyed co-workers and the process of making people happy with food. If you wanted to know the time or the weather you could always depend on Bonita. Bonita's first love was her family - Melvin and Bonita raised seven children who will cherish her memory forever. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed by all. Bonita is survived by her husband, Melvin; seven children, Lynn (Daryl) Lachmiller of Rapidan, MN, Marcy Peterson of W. Melbourne, FL, Becky (David) Schroeder of Hartley, IA, Brian (Maria) Bartsch of Good Thunder, MN, David (Lynn) Bartsch of Vernon Center, MN, Amy Gilles of Ellsworth, WI, Sarah (Chris) Miller of Good Thunder, MN; 23 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Preceded in death by her parents; twin sister, Beverly Smith; grandson, Matthew Peterson, and great-grandson, Emerson Bartsch.