Bonnie Lea was born on August 19th, 1941 to Gerald & Thelma (Ramberg) Strommen in Waterloo, Iowa where he was stationed in the service. Later, as a 6th grader she was adopted by her dad, Luverne Olson, who loved and raised her and her sister, Linda, who was born on her birthday two years later, as his own. Bonnie passed away on May 7th, 2026 at St. Luke’s Nursing Home in Dickinson, ND

Bonnie graduated valedictorian from Milton High School in 1959. From what we hear, she was very social in high school and quite the dancer. She attended 10 proms throughout her 4 years and even won a local dance contest in North Dakota and was sent to Minneapolis to compete at the next level. She was raised in Milton, a small town with lots of activity. She attended many dances in Milton and Mountain throughout her youth. She loved to dance, and she said her parents, Luverne and Thelma, did too.

Bonnie attended Mayville State College after high school and after two years earned her standard teaching degree. While at a college social she met Jim Granberg. She would take a teaching job in his hometown of Northwood where she taught for 8 years. Jim & Bonnie married in August of 1963. They would eventually return to Mayville State where they both graduated with 4-year teaching degrees. Jim & Bonnie were blessed with 3 children: Rendi Jo, Reed James & Lisa Jean.

Besides Northwood, Bonnie taught school at Central Valley and Aneta and she also worked at Melroe while living in Cooperstown. She eventually settled in Ray, which was home, and where she taught and lived for many years. Bonnie married Richard (Dick) Ross in February of 1982 and was blessed with two more children: Scott & Michelle. Blended families aren’t easy, but they made it work. Dick & Bonnie had many happy years together and were very proud of all their children and grandchildren.

Bonnie was a teacher at heart and truly enjoyed sharing her love of reading. She loved reading books to her students when they came to the library and recite the poem Little Orphan Annie in classrooms every Halloween. She also loved suntanning, dancing, the color red, attending the Hostfest in Minot, going on walks, wintering in Arizona where she was able to line dance and meet lots of new friends and visiting. Bonnie loved to visit! She was very proud of her Norwegian heritage and was able to take two trips to Norway to visit relatives.

She developed a love for Bison & Viking’s football later in life which would have made Dick smile.

But she loved her grandchildren the most. She may not have been the grandma that had warm cookies waiting when they visited but she shared her love of books with all of them. What a gift to sit with Grandma Bonnie while she read their favorite books & nursery rhymes.

Bonnie struggled with Crohn’s Disease for most of her life and other health complications came later. You wouldn’t know the chronic pain she lived with. She liked to stay social and active and was usually up for anything. A special memory is a lady at Hawk’s Point telling her “with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, Bonnie makes friends wherever she goes”. How true that was!

Bonnie moved to Dickinson in the fall of 2021. It was very hard for her to leave Ray and the family, friends, church, and community she knew so well. The people in Ray supported her through thick & thin and it was greatly appreciated. But in true Bonnie fashion she made many new friends at Hawk’s Point, St. Luke’s and even the line dancing group she joined for a short time in Dickinson. Bonnie was friendly, kind and so much fun to be around. She will be missed!

Bonnie was a member of the Ray Lutheran Church and served on the board. She also served on the Williams County Library Board and was an officer for the Ray WELCA Group.

She is survived by her children, Rendi (Travis) Olson of Dickinson, ND Scott (Linda) Ross of Minot, ND Michelle (Dan) Copeland of Kenmare, ND Reed (Shelly) Granberg of Hamilton MT & Lisa Granberg of Ray, ND; her 15 grandchildren, Kelsey, Logan, Halle, Ramsi, Reagan, Kadee, Cooper, Hayden, Bailee, Brady, Mason, Austin, Ty, Luke & Abby and 5 great-grandchildren, Sofia, Lilly, Elijah, Madelyn & Einar; two sisters, Linda (Lowell) Williams and Marcia (Chris) Washburn and brother, Keith (Susan) Olson; sisters-in-law, Vera Raaum, Louise Ross and Sandy Ross; as well as numerous cousins, nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; parents, Luverne & Thelma; little sister, Sandra; birth father, Jerry; and in-laws, Howard & Olga Ross; as well as brothers-in-law, Howard Ross & Jim Raaum.

Thank You