Bonnie Havekost, age 85, of Fremont passed away Thursday, February 28, 2019 at the age of 85 at Dunklau Gardens in Fremont, Nebraska.

Bonnie Lou (Peterson) Havekost was born August 7th, 1933 to Vernon and Dorothy (Hansen) Peterson at West Point, Nebraska. She attended rural schools in Cuming County and graduated as valedictorian and homecoming queen from West Point High School in 1951. She attended Wayne State College, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and then Midland Lutheran College (now Midland University) where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree. Later she received a Master of Science in Education Degree from UNL in 1980.

Bonnie Lou Married Milton Havekost on July 24th, 1955 at West Side Methodist Church in rural Oakland, Nebraska. Their first home was an apartment above a grocery store in Scribner while she taught in the Scribner Public Schools. In 1956, they moved to Milt's family farm southwest of Scribner. They farmed for 9 years until moving to Fremont in 1965. Bonnie left full-time teaching for 14 years to raise her three sons. She also took up being a student again – taking classes to get her Midland College Degree. In 1976 she went back to full –time teaching in Fremont at Howard School until retiring in 1993. She spent her final 16 years of teaching, loving those kindergartners at Howard! Bonnie loved children and teaching – especially kindergarten. She taught in the following schools: District 74 (a one room rural school in Cuming County County), Norfolk Public Schools, Scribner Public Schools, Rosedale School in Dodge County, and Fremont Public Schools with a total of 24 ½ years of fulltime teaching. Bonnie also taught as a substitute teacher for 12 years. Beyond the classroom, Bonnie's focus in life was her family and friends. She enjoyed music (especially Barbershop Quartet harmony) square dancing, and board games.

She was a 53 year member of First Lutheran Church in Fremont. Throughout her time as a member she held roles as: Secretary of the Parish Board of Education, Secretary of the Church Council, choir member, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School teacher, Bible School teacher, WELCA member and Ruth Circle member. She was also a 7 year participant in Bible Study Fellowship.

Survivors include: husband Milton Havekost of Fremont, 3 sons Todd (Brenda) Havekost of San Antonio, Texas, Scott (Amy) Havekost of Franklin, Indiana, Michael (Sandra) Havekost of Beatrice, Nebraska, sisters-in-law Elvera Davis, Ethel Stuehmer, Betty Seigfreid, Delores Dunker, brothers-in-law Stanley Stuehmer and Howard Seigfreid. She has 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Dorothy Peterson, brother Donnelly Peterson, two year old sister Maxine, sisters-in-law Delores Suhr, Berniece Peterson, Mildred Sorenson, brothers-in-law Donald Havekost, LenardSuhr, Donald Sorenson, Lyle Davis, and Harold Dunker.

A public memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, 3200 E. Military Ave, Fremont. Bonnie was a cancer survivor and she desired to include the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in addition to the Midland University Scholarship Fund and First Lutheran Church as Memorial recipients. Online guestbook at www.ludvigsenmortuary.com.

Source: https://beatricedailysun.com/news/local/obituaries/bonnie-havekost/article_d8cf268f-0384-56ca-b21e-39e4d7d5f931.html