Bonnie Risius, age 72, passed away March 3 in Tucson, AZ.   Funeral Services will be Saturday, March 13, 2021 at Bricelyn Lutheran Church in Bricelyn, MN at 11:00 AM, with Pastor Judy Wozniak officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be in Bricelyn Lutheran Cemetery, Seely Twp., Faribault Co., MN.  The services will also be streamed on Good Hope Parish Facebook page (starting at 11:00 AM) for those who wish to stay safe at home.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to your favorite Bricelyn charity.  Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is entrusted with arrangements.

Bonnie Kay was born June 11, 1948 in Faribault, MN, the first born to Harlan and Joyce (Dalbotten) Rosvold. She spent her first years in Kenyon, MN and the family moved to Mendota Heights where Bonnie graduated from Henry Sibley High School in West St. Paul.  Bonnie attended Augsburg College, receiving degrees in Psychology and Sociology. She met her lifelong friends, The Row House Girls. Those girls also introduced her to John Risius. They were married June 27, 1970 at St. Stephens in West St. Paul. John was a Naval pilot, so the couple spent their first years traveling the world. Bonnie and other naval wives backpacked across Europe, meeting their husbands when they came back to port.  Back in the U.S., Bonnie worked as a social worker and the couple became foster parents. While stationed in Virginia Beach, their first child Betsy was born. The couple decided to settle back in MN, and bought a small farm at John’s hometown, Bricelyn, MN.

On the farm, the couple welcomed sons David and Adam. Bonnie kept the kids busy with 4H projects and school activities and worked as a child protection worker with Faribault County Human Services. After graduating, David joined the Army and Adam became an airline pilot, so she and John traveled around the world visiting their kids. She also enjoyed golfing, casino trips with her mom and sisters and spending time with her parents at their lake home in Wisconsin.

After retirement, Bonnie traveled, traveled and did a little traveling. She was always up for an adventure. The list of travels is too long to list. Just know there wasn’t a corner of the world she didn’t explore and she loved making memories with her friends and family. The British Virgin Islands was a special vacation spot for her and John. It was impossible to keep track of Bonnie.

Bonnie had a winter home in Green Valley, AZ and loved having coffee on her patio. Her kids had extra bedrooms and living spaces for her so she could spend some extra time with the grandkids. She bought a tent and enjoyed camping with friends and grandkids. When she was at home, she enjoyed tending to her landscaping and flowers and birdwatching off her back deck.

Bonnie is survived by her parents, Harlan and Joyce Rosvold; children Betsy (Brian) Jensen, David (Janiene) Risius and Adam (Kristin) Risius; grandchildren Conner, Holly and Carrie Jensen, Liam and Boden Risius, and John and Hannah Risius; siblings Dawn Rosvold, Greg (Carol) Rosvold, Vickie Hart, Todd (Sue) Rosvold, Steve (Pat) Rosvold; sister-in-laws Pam (Donnie) Trent, Dianne (Bob) Coughlin and Jeanne (Dwaine) Bruns, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband John, parent-in-laws Evelyn and Harry Risius and sister-in-law Jan Rosvold.