Our dear mother, Bonnie E. Torczon, 87, formerly of Platte Center, Nebraska, was given up to God on April 30, 2024 at Echo Hills Assisted living in La Vista, NE. Bonnie spent her last years in Echo Hills to be closer to her daughter Karin. Bonnie served the City of Columbus, NE as a healthcare innovator for over 30 years, bringing home health care, occupational, social and health education services to the community, as well as serving as a Heart Association leader promoting CPR instructions across Eastern Nebraska. She will be missed by all who know her.

Bonnie Ellen Halvorson was born during the Depression on July 14, 1936, on a farm in Centerville, SD to two hard working parents, Helge Johan Halvorson and Florence Elizabeth Hall. She was the sixth child of seven total children in the family, having been preceded by three sisters and two brothers. In later years, the family moved to a farm in Irene, SD, where multiple members of the family started farming and raising livestock to make a living.

Bonnie preferred working in the farm fields over housework. Many pictures in the family albums show Bonnie in dusty overalls from doing the many chores of non-mechanized farming necessary at the time. She was a good student in school and eventually found herself at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD.

Bonnie married Bruce A. Bennett in Rapid City, SD on March 1, 1957. The couple moved to Connecticut near Bruce's family and in short order, they had three children. Larry (b. 1958), Mike (b. 1961), and Karin (b. 1963). Bonnie completed nursing studies and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1960 with a B.S. degree in Nursing. Bonnie started her nursing career as an RN floor nurse at the Meriden-Wallingford and WWII Veterans Hospitals in Meriden, CT. A chance encounter with a Catholic Priest patient of hers led to all her children attending St. Mary's School in Meriden to get the best education she could find.

Bonnie's depression era birth and early life meant that the family reused all Christmas wrapping paper, saved all gift bows, all foil, all salvageable plastic bags, all butter containers became food storage containers and were saved in the cupboard even after 100's were accumulated. The family enjoyed time in many New England states, camping often in New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. And of course, Mom was always the taskmaster directing the assembly and packing of all camping gear to ensure departure on schedule! Also, on a three-year cadence, Bonnie's family visited her South Dakota family farm and family reunions, eventually moving to Nebraska in 1974.

Being the industrious person she was, approached the local hospital in Columbus (now Columbus Community Hospital) and negotiated a role starting an Inservice Education program like her experience at WWII Veterans Memorial Hospital in Meriden, CT. In her 30+ years at CCH, Bonnie also started programs in home health, occupational health, social services and served in Director roles including Quality Assurance, Medical Records, Nursing, and finally Vice President when CCH moved to its new campus. Bonnie also served for many years in leadership positions for the American Heart Association in eastern Nebraska and served as President of Nebraska Association for Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ). Bonnie was known as a persevering leader whose mindset was, let's get it done now.

Following her divorce from Bruce Bennett, Bonnie went to a singles dance and met Clarence M. Torczon of Platte Center, NE. They were wed at St. Isidore's Church in Columbus, NE on February 19, 1984, a day later than scheduled courtesy of a good old Nebraska blizzard. Bonnie and Clarence lived in Columbus, NE at her home for a time, but eventually moved to a house in Platte Center nearer to Clarence's farming properties. Clarence farmed along with his nephew Gary Torczon until Clarence passed away in 2018. Clarence and Bonnie also welcomed Vera Torczon, Clarence's mother into their household for her golden years and a small white poodle named Toby.

Bonnie and Clarence enjoyed gardening, church going, visiting with family and friends, Legion Post 283 activities and Husker football. Together they traveled to visit family in California, Michigan, and Florida, as well as closer family in Nebraska and South Dakota, both Halvorson's and Torczon's. More extended adventures included a Caribbean cruise and finally a bowl game for the Huskers (remember those everyone!). The Huskers won and will again! Bonnie was active in the Platte Center American Legion, the VFW and their church, St. Michael's in Tarnov, NE.  Their common interest was card play and they participated in many bridge marathons, sheepshead, and whist to name a few. Bonnie was well known for her spirited game play and loved the social aspects of such gatherings.

Bonnie's time in assisted living and memory care was both challenging, but also a blessing as she no longer worried about day-to-day life, and you only saw the raw personality...like telling Karin her eyebrows were uneven and insisting to Larry he must be dying his hair at his age. But at the same time, Mom was always asking "Is this all real," and very interested to ask how big our family was, were we happy in marriage, where did we all live, and were we all happy with our lives. You never had to wonder what she was thinking, in fact she had some notable quips that we came to call "Momisms." Mom's humor let us know she was still in there. We share one here for a smile, Bonnie Momism: Mom to Karin: "Do you have a boyfriend?"; Karin: "Yes."; Bonnie: "Does he make a lot of money?"; Karin: "He gets by."; Bonnie: "He's a spy?"

Bonnie will always be remembered by her three children as a humble servant of God, a manager of "everything", an example of "hard work gets things done", and that family is important. As we noted, even in the fog of dementia, Mom wanted to understand if her maternal role was complete. We want her to know it was and we love her for all she did. She will be deeply missed.

Bonnie is survived by her children, Lawrence A. Bennett (Roberta) of Benicia, CA, Michael J. Bennett (Cynthia) of Pittsburgh, PA, and Karin E. Goodwin (Matt Becker) of Omaha, NE, her brother, Helge Halvorson, Jr. (Patty) of Yankton, SD, as well as eleven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and further extended family in Nebraska, South Dakota, and many other states. Bonnie was predeceased by her husband Clarence M. Torczon (Platte Center, NE), her parents Helge and Florence Halvorson (Irene, SD) siblings Harold Halvorson (Viborg, SD), Olava Freeburg (Ft. Dodge, IA), Robert Halvorson (Wakonda, SD), Miriam Nelson (Viborg, SD) and Helen Halvorson (Centerville, SD).

Lastly, the family would like to thank and acknowledge all who helped with Bonnie's care and support in her last years, including the staffs at both Heritage Meridian Gardens in Columbus, NE and Echo Hills in La Vista, NE, Helge and Patty Halvorson who visited often, Mike and Sally Duesman of Columbus, NE, Gary and Gina Torczon of Platte Center, NE, and Carol Torczon of Elkhorn, NE who made many holiday decorations for Mom.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 10:00 AM, at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Tarnov, Nebraska, with Fr. Stan Schmit celebrating the Mass.  Interment will be in the parish cemetery.  Visitation will be on Friday, May 10 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM and continue Saturday, May 11 from 9:00 AM until Mass time, all at the church.  The Nebraska Nursing Honor Guard will do honors on Friday at 5:30 PM, followed by a church vigil service at 7:00 PM, both at the church.  Memorials are suggested to St. Michael's Church, Columbus Community Hospital, or the American Heart Association.