Bonnie Bucher

Bonnie Bucher was born on May 7, 1946 to Wayne and Edith Emma (Sheller) Hess in Eldora, Iowa. As a small child she moved with her family to Pipestone County and grew up on the family farm west of Pipestone. She and her family attended Salem Evangelical United Brethren. She was baptized in 1958 in the Split Rock Creek below the dam near Ihlen, Minnesota. She was confirmed at Zion EUB in Pipestone, Minnesota (which was a sister church to Salem, EUB). She attended Country School #35, thru 6th grade, likely walking up-hill both ways. She attended Pipestone High School, graduating in 1964. She was united in marriage on July 11, 1964 to John “Jack” Bucher at Zion EUB in Pipestone. They started their life-long adventure by moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where they lived from 1964 to 1967. Bonnie worked for a time as a Secretary at Lutheran Brotherhood (also attending secretarial school) while Jack attended trade school. They then moved back to the Bucher farm which was near Hatfield, Minnesota and the couple happily lived there until 2021. They raised their family there and also enjoyed seeing grandchildren on the farm through the years. Bonnie operated a small business with her close friend Ginny Evans for a number of years which involved painting, wallpapering, and housekeeping. She and Jack retired in 2011 and continued to enjoy time on the farm until moving to Pipestone in 2021. Bonnie had a deep faith in our Lord Jesus, and love for her family. Throughout her health challenges in her later years she never lost her spirit or her faith in Jesus’ saving grace. Bonnie entered Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and passed away there on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

She was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Pipestone where she was a member of the Choir, the Altar Guild, the Hospice Quilting Group, and participated in different fundraising activities for Christmas sprays, Christmas Bazaars, soup suppers, and others. She was an avid sewer and quilter. She loved caring for her garden and outdoor plants. She enjoyed playing cards, fishing, and attending her children and grandchildren’s activities and sporting events throughout the years. She was interested in genealogy and spent many hours researching family history through various avenues. She also enjoyed being a 4-H parent when her kids were active in that group. She and Jack were members of the Hiawatha SnowBlazers Snowmobile Club. Above all, being a grandparent was Bonnie’s greatest joy.

Bonnie is lovingly remembered by her husband, John “Jack” Bucher of Pipestone; children, Greg (Lisa) Bucher of Marshall, Minnesota, Jeff (Marcia) Bucher of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Emily Bucher of Edgerton, Minnesota, and Andrew (significant other, Tabitha Long) Bucher of Pipestone; 9 grandchildren and 4 step-grandchildren; siblings, Myrna (George) Huisken of Camarillo, California, Marlys (Lyle) Buddenhagen of Edgerton, Curtis Hess of Pipestone, Joyce Ripley of Omaha, Nebraska, and Duane (Janelle) Hess of Pipestone; sister-in-law, Sandra Bucher of Pipestone; and many loving nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Emma Hess; father- and mother-in-law, Bud and Mick Bucher; sister-in-law, Megan Hess; brother-in-law, Wally Bucher; and nephew, Carl Hess.