Bonnie Cole

Monday, March 1, 2010
Bonnie Cole

Bonnie J. (Gover) Cole, 67, of Mountain Home, passed away on Feb. 14, 2010, at her home, surrounded by her family.

Her remains were interred on Feb. 22, 2010, at the Haines Cemetery in Haines, Ore. Arrangements were under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Bonnie was born on Sept. 2, 1942, in Baker City, Ore., to Vester William Gover and Delora (Funk) Gover, the fourth of six children.

Bonnie was raised on the family dairy farm near Baker City where she received her early education. She graduated from Baker High School in 1960 and attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah from 1960-1963. She majored in Human Relations and Family Development.

On Feb. 27, 1964, she and Herbert Ralph Cole of Haines, Ore., whom she had known since childhood, were married in Baker City. Bonnie and the family lived in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah before retiring in Mountain Home in 2002.

Throughout her life, she worked tirelessly in numerous secretarial and business managerial positions including as a corporate collection accountant for 22 years with Intermountain Health Care (IHC) in Salt Lake City, Utah, prior to her retirement in 2002.

Bonnie was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who possessed a remarkable compassion and love for working with children.

Her generosity to friends, neighbors and strangers alike was well-renowned and her kind nature will be missed by all who knew her.

Bonnie was always active in her local community and church. She was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She served as a choir director, primary leader, Cub Scout leader and worked extensively in the Relief Society for 53 years.

Bonnie is survived by her husband, H. Ralph Cole of Mountain Home, five children and their spouses, Leonard (Sulani) Cole of Fountain Valley, Calif., Melynda (Larry) Schussler, of Plattsburg, Mo., William (Rachel) Cole of Payson, Utah, Michelle (Justin) Wilson of Grangeville, and Marla (Jon) Castro of Colorado Springs, Colo. She also is survived by her brothers and sisters, Frank Gover of Lehi, Utah, Louise Maness of Baker City, Ore., Dean Gover of Torrence, Calif., Don Gover of Pleasant Grove, Utah, and Kate Johnson of Ivens, Utah. She also is survived by 15 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation,500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108.