Bonnie Kae Olds Ballard, born March 30, 1947, returned her Heavenly Father peacefully on Saturday, October 7, 2023, surrounded by her three children. Mom was born in Hurricane, Utah, to Clark and Mona Olds. She is the oldest of their four children.

As a young child Bonnie loved riding horses on the lower street in Toquerville and finding kittens to play with. When Bonnie was a young girl, going to school in Toquerville, she would go to her special spot under the black walnut tree and spend time cracking walnuts for a treat. When mom was older, she had to start riding the bus to Hurricane for school, and in the wintertime, she remembered hearing the bus come into town and having to run to the upper street and hide behind the big walnut tree to get out of the north wind and so her hair would not freeze.

Bonnie was able to keep good grades in high school and was a Tigerette. She graduated with the class of 1965.

After high school Bonnie got married and was later divorced, mom took the three of us and made things work to keep us together. Mom worked two and three jobs to keep us together as a family.

Bonnie kept many jobs though out the years and was always appreciated by her coworkers and managers. Mom’s most recent jobs, and the one we believe she loved the best, was at the Hurricane Valley Heritage Park Museum.

Bonnnie served a mission in 1992 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fort Worth, Texas. She also held many other callings in the church.

In 1993, Bonnie moved back to Toquerville to be closer to her mother and father. Mom was always there for them, helping with things that they needed.

Bonnie had a love for cats and dogs, and a few fish, it seemed like she always tried to keep a beloved pet by her side. She had perfected the long-lost art of crocheting, always creating very beautiful things. She also loved making quilts, afghans, and most recently baby blankets and burp rags, mom was a talented seamstress making many of her own clothes in high school and later for her children.

In the winter months mom would brew up a nice hot vegetable and beef stew that was delightful and very much appreciated on a cold winter day. She was also a great cook and people would always compliment her on how well her turkey was on Thanksgiving Day. As a single mother she never let her kids go hungry there was always something to eat.

Bonnie is preceded in death by her mother, Mona, and father, Clark, and numerous aunts and uncles. She is survived by her children, Stacie Kae (Cory) Cannon of Lehi, Utah, Michel E. (Melanie) Ballard of New Harmony, Utah, and Chadly S Ballard of Toquerville, Utah, grandkids Kimber Kae Cannon, Cash Rigby Cannon, step-grandkids, Marc L. Rose and Mitchell L Rose, sister, Gaona (Mitchell) Schoppman, Lynn (Linda) Olds and Marlin (Debbie) Olds.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, October 16, 2023, at 11:00 am, at the Toquerville Chapel, 63 North Toquerville Boulevard, Toquerville, Utah.

Visitations will be held Sunday, October 15, 2023, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm, at the Toquerville Chapel, and on Monday, October 16, 2023, from 9:30 - 10:30 am, prior to the service.

Interment will follow at the Toquerville City Cemetery, 1200 Toquerville Boulevard, Toquerville, Utah.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454.

Family and friends are invited to sign Bonnie’s online guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com