Bonnie Harsch, 71, of Coleharbor, passed away on Jan. 25, 2023 at her home with her family by her side. Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. at the Bismarck Funeral Home. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at the Bismarck Funeral Home and continue one hour prior to the service.
Bonnie was born to Isabelle and Gilman Bakken on December 15 th 1951. During her childhood years she was raised in several places including South Dakota, Wilton ND and Stanton ND. Bonnie quit school in Stanton at a young age to work and help support her younger siblings and later went on to get her GED. Bonnie worked at the Legion Café in Hazen ND and also for the North Dakota State Park in Pick City ND and the Dam Bar in Pick City ND until the time that she accepted a position with the United Power Association (Great River Energy). Bonnie was extremely proud of her Employment at UPA. Starting out as a Labor, being promoted to the warehouse and later to lead warehouse. There was many times that she would be called to work in the middle of the night and she never complained, she always said she would work whatever hours she could get. Bonnie was excited when the day came that she could finally retire and enjoy her life with her husband, family and friends.
While living in Stanton she met the love of her life Myron Harsch. Shortly after they starting dating Myron was drafted into the Army due to times of war and Bonnie waited for him to return home. After 2 years of service being stationed in Nuremburg Germany. On August 1 st 1970 Bonnie married Myron and proceeded to start their family. In March of 1972 Bonnie gave birth to their daughter LeAnn and in April of 1976 she was blessed with their son Leon. Bonnie was proud to have both a daughter and a son and she was a loving mother that can never be replaced.
In June of 1989 Myron and Bonnie were blessed with their first Grandson, Cody and in April of 1996 their second Grandson Dylan. Bonnie adored her grandchildren and was extremely proud of the young men they grew to be. In August of 2021 Cody and his Fiancée Courtney gave the blessing of a Great Grandson, Kai William Harsch. This little man could always bring a smile to Bonnie’s face and lift her spirits.
Bonnie was a real “Go Getter”, if there was a job to be done she was determined to get it done. NO was not an answer she would accept, if you told her it could not be done or it had to wait she would prove to you that SHE would get it done. There was a time when she wanted an antique dresser taken downstairs, she waited until no one was there to stop her, she placed card board under the dresser and slid it down the stairs by herself. Her family could only ask her what she would have done if that dresser got away and ran her over down the stairs, she just laughed and said “ ya well that did not happen so I am ok!”
Bonnie’s greatest love was that of her family and friends, her door was always open and the coffee was ready along with food or goodies to share. Bonnie loved to cook German dishes that she learned from Myron’s family and she made the best kuchen around. She enjoyed gardening, canning and crocheting. Bonnie taught herself how to crochet afghans and loved to give them as special gifts especially to newborn babies. She loved to play pinnacle and always tried to put on her best poker face. Bonnie loved her flower beds and spent many hours planting, trimming and making them beautiful. She also loved to feed and watch the birds in her backyard. Her favorite being the hummingbirds and the little finches.
After her children grew up and moved out to start their adult lives, Bonnie filled her empty nest with her loving pets. She adored her cat and dog and would often share her meals with them and her puppy went everywhere with her.
Bonnie looked forward to the weekends when her children would come home to visit and loved the fact that her Son in Law, Charlie would always cook her breakfast in the morning so she could pick on him in the process and make sure he added onions to the potatoes and eggs!
Bonnie was a loving wife, a wonderful mother-grand mother and great grandmother. She was a true friend to many people and she will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Bonnie was proceeded in Death by her parents Gilman and Isabelle Bakken, her Brothers Jerry, Jim, and Larry Bakken, her nephew Kent Bakken, her Mother in law Lillian Harsch, Father in Law Jacob Harsch, Brother in Laws Elmer Harsch, Nathaniel Sailer, and Eugene Boeshans, Sister in Laws Darlene and Dianne Bakken and Louise Harsch.
Bonnie is survived by her loving husband Myron Harsch, Her children LeAnn (Charles) Alyea, Leon Harsch, Grandsons Cody Harsch (Courtney McMurtrey), Dylan Ohlhauser, Great Grandson Kai William Harsch, Step Grandchildren Shayla (Ken) Boehm and family, Kayla Albertson and family, and Sam Skoglund. Her Brothers Danny Bakken, Terry (Laurie) Bakken, Randy (Melissa) Bakken, Sisters Joann Kelly, Diana Bossert (Dean Zuraff), Linda (Ron) Kendall, Brother in Law Wilbert Harsch, Sister in Laws Luella Sailer, Shirley Boeshans, Verda Harsch, Judy Bakken and numerous nieces and nephews.
A special Thank you to Luella Sailer, Shirley Boeshans, and Verda Harsch for the love and care given in the days before we lost Bonnie, the assistance you gave in the time of our need is greatly appreciated.