Bonita "Bonnie" Cordes

BONITA "BONNIE" KAY CORDES was born on December 18, 1946, to Burdett and Violet (Wilson) Long in Hazel Run, Minnesota. There, she was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran Church and would go on to teach 4th grade Sunday School. Bonnie attended Clarkfield High School where she graduated in 1965. Following her graduation, she began working at Super Feeds in Hanley Falls, Minnesota. Bonnie then obtained a degree in Accounting and Accounting Microcomputer Specialties in 1995, from Southwestern Technical College in Granite Falls, Minnesota. After obtaining her degree, she worked at Schwan's in Marshall, Minnesota as a computer technician. While working full-time, she also held some part-time jobs including a position at a local flower shop and the Cenex Co-op. While at the co-op, she met Edward Balster whom she would later find to be the love of her life. The couple was blessed with many years of companionship. On Thursday, May 12, 2022, Bonnie died while under hospice care at the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone, Minnesota. She was 75 years, four months, and 26 days of age.

Bonnie was a very quick-witted person and knew exactly how to keep Ed in line. She loved animals, baking, playing cards, and admiring her garden (specifically her cheerful yellow black-eyed Susans). Above all she loved Ed, and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren immensely. Bonnie's loved ones will fondly remember that no matter her health situation, she was always requesting her essentials: Diet Sunkist, ice cream, and her smokes. The children would often joke with her about which child was her "favorite." The real truth of it is that every child and grandchild absolutely believed they were her very favorite because that is exactly how she made each one of them feel. She will be missed.

Bonnie is survived by her significant other, Edward Balster and children, Jennifer (James) Skyberg, Theresa (John) Draper, Ed Jr. (Amy) Balster, and Kristie (Terry) Tollefson all of Pipestone, and Nicole (Joel) Kragh of Clarkfield; 24 grandchildren, Damian, Morgan, Jaime, Rachel, Carmen, Kaitlyn, Meredith, Addison, Ireland, Edward “Tyler”, Kenadie, Grayson, Camryn, Seth, Macy, Kamarie, Breylee, Kaylee, Brooklyn, Emerson, Tatum, Reece, Harper, and Lennox; two great-grandchildren, Eretria and Octavia; and one great-grandson on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents and infant granddaughter, Greer.