Bonnie Mickelson

Bonnie Mickelson, age 75 of Elbow Lake, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2017 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo from complications of kidney disease.

Bonita Rae (Hartman) Mickelson was born in Fergus Falls on May 5, 1942 to Merle and Esther (Shuck) Hartman. Bonnie grew up on the farm west of Wendell where she attended grade school at the Lawrence country school, and later graduated from Elbow Lake High School. She attended the Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND. In June of 1990, she married Dale Mickelson of Elbow Lake. She worked as an administrative assistant for several insurance companies, attorneys, newspaper offices, owned a hardware store and frame shop, and most recently worked at the Senior Nutrition Center in Elbow Lake. She was active in the United Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Elbow Lake Study Club, the Red Hat Society, and was a bell ringer in the church bell choir.

Bonnie was a very talented and creative individual, which showed in her paintings and drawings. She made spectacular wedding cakes, along with birthday and graduation cakes. She loved scrapbooking and taught many classes to friends to share her creativity. She also made greeting cards with her stamping friends. She was very handy at the sewing machine, making quilts, with many of her banners adorning her church. Bonnie definitely had a green thumb. Her flower gardens were full of perennials, and she enjoyed canning produce from her vegetable garden. Bonnie loved to cook, bake and entertain the ladies of her church group.

Bonnie is survived by her husband, Dale, daughter Renee (Tim) Backman of Lake Preston, SD, son Steve Nelson of Elbow Lake, two grandsons, Cody Backman of Fort Collins, CO, and Hunter Backman of Lake Preston, SD.  Sisters, Linnea (Jim) Bakeman of Cold Springs, MN, Lenore (Mike) Bevins of Elbow Lake, step-daughters, Janet (Terry Cox) Mickelson, of Albertville, MN and Shari (Mark) Motl of Mount Vernon, WA and their children, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Shelley Hartman.

Memorial Services: 1:00PM Thursday, December 14, 2017 at United Lutheran Church, Elbow Lake with visitation one hour prior to the service.

Clergy: Reverend Jean Ohman

Burial: Ness Cemetery, Elbow Lake

Online condolences: EricksonSmithFh.com