Bonnie Straight

Bonnie Reeser Straight, 82, died peacefully on February 1st, 2025, at the Pioneer Home in Fergus Falls, MN.

Bonnie was born on November 17, 1942, in Inglewood California, to James and Evelyn (Ash) Reeser, the oldest of 4 daughters. Always curious and an avid reader, she loved and excelled in school, graduating as the Salutatorian of her 1961 class.

The week after graduation, Bonnie began her X-Ray training at Lake Region Hospital, graduating as a Radiological Technician (RT) in 1963. That spring, she applied to be a volunteer for the Peace Corps. Her application was approved, and shortly after RT graduation, she was sent to Brazil to join the Brazil 6 Peace Corps Project, co-sponsored by the 4-H Foundation thru the MN Extension. Their team's mission was to train parents to be leaders for their communities and to establish & support local 4-H clubs. She returned in 1965 and chose to continue her education at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, where she met Richard Straight, her future husband. They were married in 1966 in Fergus Falls.

For the next few years, they lived in multiple major cities (Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Ann Arbor, Evanston and Virginia Beach) pursuing education, employment and opportunities. In 1991 they felt God's calling to 'do more', so they made some inquiries, and found their calling as Volunteers in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Bonnie taught English at the Vilnius Language Institute. The institute leadership wanted the Language Institute to become recognized as a four-year college, so Bonnie, working with the leadership team, helped make the needed changes to meet the mandatory requirements and in the fall of 1992 the Institute was renamed the Lithuanian Christian College, LCC. This was a huge undertaking and a great success. Once LCC was an accredited college, all teachers had to have a Master's Degree so Bonnie could no longer teach. For a time, she and Rich found other jobs in Klaipeda.

In1996 the first class of twenty-two students graduated with their four-year degrees, and Bonnie and Rich were there to celebrate with them. Not being at LCC was difficult. Bonnie wanted to teach, so they came back to the states, to Virginia Beach, in pursuit of her MBA. She was encouraged to get her PhD, which she did and in 2005 she graduated from Regent University with a Doctoral Degree in Organizational Leadership. From 2005-2008 she Chaired the Business Department at LCC, specializing in International Business. She later taught two online classes for Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana, and when they returned to the states, for a few years, she continued teaching on-line.

In 2008, because of health issues Bonnie & Rich returned to the states. Settling in Fergus Falls, they found their church home and a home of their own. There were continued health issues which in 2017 landed them at Pioneer Care...their home for the last 8 years.

Bonnie was gifted with a great mind and a creative, compassionate and caring spirit. She designed and hand stitched several quilts. Cutting out all the pieces for each square, she'd put them in separate baggies so as she traveled, she could take out her pieces and 'quilt'! She was a member of a Poetry Writing group and a Reading cluster, played cards and games on her computer, and for a short time wrote of her experiences in Lithuania for the Pioneer Gazette.

Seeing beauty in everything around her she wanted to somehow capture that beauty. Making her own dyes from nature, she dyed her own yarn and created multiple hangings. She gathered leaves/flowers/seeds and grasses to dry and then created dried flower designs for stationary & Christmas decorations. She painted with watercolor and using computer aps, she charted watercolor maps of family landscapes for each of us.

As her health declined, she often didn't have an appetite, but she always had room for ice cream! Especially Java Chunk and strawberry sundaes.

She loved all those she met, seeing only the good and the potential. She loved and was loved in return. Her deep love of God was her guiding light.

Preceding her in death were her parents Jim and Evelyn Reeser, her husband Rich, and brother-in-law Murle Dossett.

Survivors include her sisters; "Kelly" Dossett of Anderson IN, "Kitty" (Paul) Rund of Fergus Falls MN and "Lee" (Lee) Meyers of Deer Creek MN, brother-in-law Ron (Jennie) Straight of Hays KS; Nieces and nephews; Heidi Seibert of Woodbury MN, Todd (Robin) Hultman of Anderson IN, Jason (Julie) Rund of Fergus Falls MN, Kirsten (Tony) Mullins of Columbus IN, Mira (Kurt) Manselle of Banner WY, Darin (Jessica) Meyers of Deer Creek MN, Meghan (Lee) Syndergaard of Minnetrista MN, Dane (Alycia) Straight of Lindsborg KS, Brett Straight of Gorham KS, a very special family in Lithuania, Vaidas and Gina Levickis and their girls; and many great nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Blessed be the memory of Bonnie Jean Reeser Straight

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church, Fergus Falls with a visitation one-hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Lawrence Presbyterian Cemetery.

Assistance provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation, Fergus Falls, MN.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com