Wesley B Bonnett

WESLEY B. BONNETT, age 88, of Amboy, died Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Oaklawn Care Center in Mankato. Funeral services will be held 10:00 am on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church in Amboy, with Rev. Elaine Boyd officiating. Burial will be in Sterling Cemetery, Mapleton. Visitation time will be from 4:00-6:00 pm Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church, 240 North Street East, Amboy, and 1 hour before the service at the church. Web tributes may be left at www.spencerowen.com Wesley was born to Charles and Dorothy (Lemkee) Bonnett on January 14, 1927 on a farm east of Amboy in Sterling Township. He had five brothers and two sisters, being next to the youngest. His father died when he was 8 years old. Wesley attended Amboy School for all 12 years, graduating in 1945. That same year he enlisted in the Army Air Force and served until 1946. Wesley attended Mankato Commercial College until April 13, 1947 when he married his high school sweetheart, Harriet May Grover, daughter of Hope (Hazel) and Corliss Grover of Sterling. They farmed Celia Cornell’s farm in Sterling for 12 years and then moved to Dr. Carey’s farm on Lura Lake for 25 years until their son, Dan, took over in 1985. They then moved to their home in Amboy. Wes helped Dan with the farming for 23 more years. In the fall of 2014, Wes & Harriet moved to Keystone Senior Living Center in Mankato. Wesley was a member of the Amboy American Legion for 69 years, charter member of the Amboy Lion’s Club where he was president when Amboy Lion’s started the Adopt a Highway project in the State of Minnesota. He was a member and elder of Amboy Presbyterian Church; member of Blue Earth County Farm Bureau, Lura Lake Sportsmen Club, Sterling Cemetery Association, Amboy Odd Fellows; and a former Mapleton School Board member. Wesley’s family and his farm were his pride and joy and he loved hearing Harriet play his favorite songs on the piano. He also enjoyed playing softball, baseball, golf, cards; fishing and camping; and wintering in Mesa, AZ. His lifelong dream of a cruise to Alaska was fulfilled with Harriet and their two older daughters. Wesley is survived by his wife of 68 years Harriet of Mankato; children, Leah (Larry) Frank of Mapleton, Bonnie Hansen of Columbia, MO, Dan (Edith) Bonnett of Amboy, and Mary Jo (Dean) Leiding of Baudette, MN; older brother, Ernest Bonnett of Vancouver, WA and two sisters-in-law, Anita Bonnett of Amboy and Janet Grover of Mankato; 18 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers Howard, Charlie, George and Edwin; and two sisters Dorothy Griffith and Veda Karst.