Obituary of Bonnie Lou Ekstrom

On Saturday, Apr. 4, 2020, Bonnie Lou Ekstrom passed away at St. Luke’s hospice in Duluth, MN, with son, Mike, by her side. Bonnie was born on February 23, 1937 to Peter and Fanny (Bisek) Ostby and grew up on the family farm near Rosholt, SD.  In 1955, Bonnie graduated from Rosholt High School in May and married Darrell Ekstrom in June at Trondhjem Lutheran Church in Rosholt.  After one year of farming in South Dakota, they moved to Brimson, MN, where Darrell could earn $20 a day working overtime for the Reserve Mining railroad.  In 1957, they purchased ŅThe Ranchņ outside of Two Harbors, and made that their home to this day.  After her sons were in school, Bonnie began her career with the Lake Superior School District as a cook’s helper and eventually retired as head cook in 2000.  For Bonnie, ŅFood is Loveņ applied to students, coworkers, family and friends.  If you left her house hungry, that was no fault but your own.  Shortly after hanging up her cook’s apron, she went to work at Irresistible Ink in Two Harbors and later for Hallmark in Duluth.   Bonnie was known for her meticulously clean house, all clothes and linens ironed to crisp perfection, and fresh baked treats always on hand.  She enjoyed reading, playing cards, casino trips to Hinckley, and visiting the grocery store to satisfy her social fix.  Bonnie and Darrell also made beautiful Christmas wreaths for nearly 60 years which brought great joy to many around the holidays.  She was an amazing wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma and friend to all who shared in her life.  Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Fanny, siblings Beulah Braaten, Betty Pearson, Dean Ostby and special sister, Faye Akerson and in-laws.  She is survived by her husband of nearly 65 years, Darrell, sons Bruce (Lynn), Mike (Colleen), and Mitch (Lori); grandsons Brent (Emily), Wade (Hafizah) and Conor (Katie); grandaughters Nicole (Scott) Westensee, Allye B. (Dan) Leavell, Paige and Marin (Yuki) Ekstrom; great-grandchildren Colby, Stella, Lincoln and Brooklyn and several nieces and nephews.   The family wishes to extend a special ŅThank Youņ to Dr. Howard Josephs and mom’s angel, Sherry Fabini, for their extraordinary care over the years.   A celebration of Bonnie’s life will be held at a later date.  The many loving memories we made together will sustain us until we meet again.  Bonnie and Darrell are truly a remarkable love story.  We are all so proud to be a part of your family and are grateful for the example you set for all of us.  If cleanliness is next to godliness, the sparkle in heaven just became much brighter.