Bonita "Bonnie" Joan Hanson

A celebration for the life of Bonita “Bonnie” Hanson, 91, of Minneota, will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Hope Lutheran Church in Minneota. A reception with sharing of memories will follow in the church basement. A private family graveside service will take place later at Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Minneota.

Bonita “Bonnie” (Borson) Hanson was born in Lyon County MN on September 28, 1934 to Albert and Hazel (Esping) Borson. She graduated with honors from both Minneota High School (1952) and Concordia College in Moorhead MN (1956 with a degree in elementary education). Her high school sweetheart, Donald Hanson, proposed on Christmas Eve 1954 on the “Big Hill” near her family’s farm and they were married July 9, 1955 at Hope Lutheran Church in Minneota.

Bonnie and Don lived in 7 communities in 5 states as during their teaching careers and later Don’s career with John Deere. Throughout these moves, Bonnie taught elementary school, pursued a masters degree in special education and worked part-time in office positions. She volunteered with their children’s school PTA’s, their local church and their community wherever they lived. It was not uncommon to find Bonnie chairing an event or committee due to her excellent organizational skills and creative talents. Examples include serving on the Board of the Rochester (MN) League of Women Voters, the Kansas City YWCA Board of Directors and Concordia College’s National Alumni Board of Directors.

While living in the Kansas City area, Bonnie began taking classes in floral arranging, eventually becoming a professional floral designer, specializing in dried and silk arrangements. She was well known among her friends and family for always having her home decorated for major holidays and all four seasons. Any holiday that included red decorations was a favorite as it was her signature color (you could always count on her to have beautiful red fingernails!).

In addition to her floral arrangements, Bonnie also enjoyed her outdoor flowers: iris, day lilies, tulips, peonies to name a few favorites. Regardless of where they lived, Bonnie had flowers - sometimes flowering bushes and trees, other times flower pots, hanging baskets or planted gardens. And always, her bright red geraniums.

Although Bonnie and Don often lived far from Minneota and their extended family, they always made sure they were together for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas as well as summer vacations. Many happy memories were made spending time with their children and grandchildren on their parent’s farms near Minneota. In their later years, Bonnie and Don took trips to visit their children and grandchildren as their children’s careers took them to states far from Minnesota. Family was important to Bonnie.

When Don retired from John Deere, they made the decision to return to Minneota where they became involved with their community once again. Bonnie served in leadership roles with the Lyon County Enterprise Development Corporation, Minneota City Council, Society for the Preservation of Minneota Heritage (SPMH), the local Chamber of Commerce, News and Arts Club, Hope Lutheran Church and her beloved Boxelder Bug Days, a popular community celebration that she and Don were involved with since its inception. Bonnie was proud of Minneota with its strong sense of community, school academics and athletic teams. She loved being back in her hometown.

Bonnie died on Monday, December 8, 2025 at the Hendricks Nursing Home in Hendricks MN. She was preceded in death by Don, her husband of 49 years and her parents, Albert and Hazel Borson. She is survived by her children Bruce Hanson of KS, Barbara Hanson (Jim Deger) of MN, and Eric (Kelli) Hanson of OR, grandchildren Aaron (Marina) Hanson of FL, Amanda (Regan) Wilson of MO, Vanessa Hanson, Ava Hanson and Annika Hanson of OR, great-grandchildren Chase, James (Jack), Zoey and Corbin, brother Robert (Susan) Borson of NM, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, Bonnie asked that a donation be made to one of the following organizations that were special to her, or to a charity of your choice.

•Hope Lutheran Church

113 South Jefferson Street P.O. Box 87 Minneota MN 56264

https://hopeminneota.org/giving.html

•Concordia College

Advancement Office

901 South 8th Street

Moorhead MN 56560

https://concordiacollege.givingfuel.com/cobberfund

•The Society for the Preservation of Minneota’s Heritage (SPMH)

SPMH

c/o Sandy Josephson

1663 320th St N

Taunton, MN 56291