Bonita Ruth (Pedersen) Graybill, 88, died on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, at the Elmwood Care Center in Onawa. She was born on Nov. 18, 1934, near Dunlap, to parents, Floyd and Golda (Summerfield) Pedersen. The family farmed in the Dunlap and Woodbine area and then in 1950, moved to the Moorhead area. Bonnie started school in Dunlap and then graduated from Moorhead High School in 1953. She then worked at the Moorhead State Bank and the Soldier Valley Savings Bank. On July 19, 1957, Bonnie married Bruce Graybill in Ute. Bruce was in the Army so Bonnie stayed with her folks until Bruce was stationed in the Washington DC area and Bonnie joined him in Arlington, Virginia. They lived in various locations including Germany. In 1975, Bruce retired from the Army and the family moved back to Moorhead. Bonnie worked at Bob’s IGA in Moorhead, which later became Swenson’s Market from 1982 to 1997.
Bonnie was a member of the Moorhead Christian Church, where she had been active with the church ladies group. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors Club. Bonnie loved sports, especially watching the Atlanta Braves. She loved to watch and feed birds and she loved her dog, Buster.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bruce Graybill in 2009; and her brother, Gary Pedersen. She is survived by her two daughters, Barbara and her husband Mark Jensen of Pisgah and Brenda and her husband Walker Carrigan of Onawa; four grandchildren, Angela (Brandon) Gates, Michael (Emily) Jensen, Nathan (Sydney Davis) Carrigan and Sydney Carrigan; brother, Royce Pedersen of Marshall, Minn.; sister, Gloriane Rosburg of Martell, Neb.; and many other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at Moorhead Christian Church in Moorhead. Pastor Chuck Snow presided over the service. The recorded musical selections were “In the Garden” and “Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone”. The pallbearers were Walker Carrigan, Mark Jensen, Michael Jensen, Nathan Carrigan, Brandon Gates and Bo Fox. Bonnie’s final resting place is at the Spring Valley Cemetery.
Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of the arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
