Bonnie June (Gerrond) Ipson

Bonnie June (Gerrond) Ipson left her earthly home on November 18, 2020, at Morton County Hospital in Elkhart, Kansas. Bonnie was born on the Gerrond Farm in Stevens County, Kansas, on June 30, 1929, to James Ray and Eva (Slemp) Gerrond.

Bonnie grew up on the farm, attending High Point and South Harmony country schools with her cousins and neighbors. When she started high school in Hugoton, she stayed in town with Mary Cross as there were no school buses to transport country kids to school. She played clarinet in the high school band. After graduation, she attended business college in Omaha Nebraska, then returned to Hugoton to work for Bell Telephone. On June 18, 1949, Bonnie married Roger Ipson in Clayton, New Mexico. They made their home in Hugoton where Roger worked for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline. In 1955, they transferred to Elkhart during the oil/gas boom where she lived until her death. Bonnie worked for the City of Elkhart for 20 years, in the city clerk’s office.

She and Roger enjoyed retirement in their RV, traveling the country and eventually snow birding in Harlingen, Texas, for 17 winters.

Bonnie was a faithful wife and mother, Sunday School teacher and 4-H leader for her children. She was a talented quilter, completing quilts for all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren before her death. She enjoyed watching Elkhart sports teams, especially baseball and softball, and was a big fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, even when they weren’t winning. She was a longtime member of the Elkhart United Methodist Church.

Bonnie is survived by daughter, Teresa Harder and husband Ted of Elkhart; five grandchildren, Kellie Mittelstedt and husband Ben of Conroe, Texas, Tara Bayles and husband Adam of Monck’s Corner, South Carolina, T.J. Ipson and wife Josie of Turpin, Oklahoma, Chelsi Plummer and husband Zac of Amarillo, Texas, and Ethan Harder of Elkhart. Also surviving are 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

Bonnie is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roger in 2003; two sons, Ted Ispon and Ronald Dean Ipson; and two brothers, James Gerrond and Roland Gerrond.

Funeral service will be held Monday, November 23, 2020, at 10:00 AM at Elkhart United Methodist Church with Pastor Shella Choi and Jerry Ryman officiating. Interment will follow at the Elkhart Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday, November 22, 2020, from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be given to the Elkhart United Methodist Church or Morton County Historical Society in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.