Bonnie Bearson-Aken

Bonnie (Nelson) Bearson-Aken was called to her heavenly home on Friday, January 27, 2017, in Alexandria, Minnesota. Bonnie was born on Sunday, December 27, 1936, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the only child of Fred and Emma (Hanson) Nelson.
After attending Hemlock School in Eau Claire County, Bonnie graduated from Mondovi High School, Mondovi, Wisconsin in 1954. She attended Eau Claire Vocational School (now Eau Claire Technical College), then was employed by General Casualty Company of Wisconsin in their Eau Claire office. Bonnie married Rev. William H. Bearson on March 1, 1958, at Calvary Baptist Church, Eau Claire. To that union were born three children: Barbara Jean (Jim) Bell, Bradley William (Kimberly), and Robert Frederick (Agnes).
Rev. Bearson and Bonnie served churches in Albertville, Wisconsin, Easton, Missouri, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. She taught Sunday school for many years and played piano and organ in the churches they served. While in the Minneapolis area Bonnie was employed as a word processor for Pako Corporation in Golden Valley, Minnesota then as executive secretary for the Chairman of the Board of Pako, and for the Chief Financial Officer of Pako. Later she worked in Human Resources. In 1983, Bonnie was employed by Berkley Risk Administrators in Minneapolis, retiring in 2001.
After retirement Bonnie moved to Alexandria, Minnesota where in 2003 she married Ronald L. Aken, retired SMSgt., U.S. Air Force. Bonnie and Ron wintered for several years in Arizona City, Arizona where she played the organ at the Evangelical Methodist Church. They enjoyed the fellowship of many new friends during those years. Bonnie also enjoyed music, reading, crocheting, back yard bird watching, and most of all, spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Rev. Bearson passed away on February 14, 1996, in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; Ronald Aken passed away on November 12, 2010, in Alexandria, Minnesota. Others who preceded Bonnie in death were her parents, grandparents, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Bonnie is survived by her three children, nine grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, four step children: Robert Aken of Fargo, ND, Ronald Craig (Carolyn) Aken of Bear Lake, BC, Roland Patterson of Wheatland, CA, Ronna (Michael) Steffen of Sturgeon Lake, MN and their families.
Memorials are preferred to the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, PO Box 908, Bellmawr, NJ 08099 or Youth Haven Arizona Ranch, PO Box 97, Rives Junction, MI 49277.
Funeral service will be held on Friday, February 3, 2017, 10:00 A.M. at Grace Church in Alexandria, with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. A private family interment will be held at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens, Crystal, MN.